Sydney FC's Terry Antonis a chance to play against Melbourne Victory after car crash Club, not country: Terry Antonis has been ruled out of international duty but may play in A-League. The car crash that ruled Terry Antonis out of international duty could become a blessing for Sydney FC as the young midfielder is a likely chance to play against Melbourne Victory on Saturday night. Antonis has had more than his share of misfortune in his career but may have been dealt a stroke of luck as the timing of his crash allows him to serve the minimum recommended recovery period for concussions by just a matter of minutes. The 20-year-old was dealt a cruel blow on Sunday night after being ruled out of the Socceroos match against Japan next week because of minor head and neck injuries in a car accident on the way to the airport for his flight to Osaka. He escaped serious injury and if there was any other fortune in the incident, it was the timing of the accident, which narrowly occurred beyond the minimum six-day recommended recovery period set by the competition's concussion policy. It is understood the incident occurred before 7pm last Sunday, giving Antonis marginally more than six full days of recovery before Saturday night's match against rivals Melbourne Victory at Allianz Stadium. Club sources told Fairfax Media the accident did not involve another vehicle and while Antonis did not lose consciousness, an ambulance treated him for minor injuries at the scene. He did not train with the squad on Tuesday and remains under close medical supervision in the hope he will be able to recover in time for the clash against Sydney's oldest rivals. Should he be cleared of the effects of concussion and deemed fit to play, it will be a major boost for Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold, who will be without strikers Marc Janko and Corey Gameiro because of international duty. Sydney FC winger Ali Abbas says Antonis appeared in good spirits despite the setback and expects to be fit for Saturday's game. "I came to training yesterday and I heard he had an accident," Abbas said. I don't know about the accident but I think Terry is doing really well today and hopefully he can do his recovery and we can him for the weekend. I hope [he will be fit to play] because we have a lot of players missing from international duty. The clash of the A-League game and an international FIFA date was criticised by Arnold as up to nine players from both clubs are scheduled to miss Saturday's match. Melbourne Victory were set to have six players out because of international duty but there is a slim chance captain Mark Milligan could play after being ruled out of Australia's friendly with Japan because of a knee injury. Milligan failed to recover in time to join the national team camp this week after suffering a minor knee injury sustained in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle Jets last weekend. His trip to Japan was delayed because of the injury but now will not be risked for the friendly match and the travel involved. Despite being omitted from the Socceroos squad, Milligan could be eligible to play againsy Sydney FC on Saturday should he recover in time for the match. Abbas was withdrawn from international duties in Iraq's Gulf Cup campaign as the fortnight-long tournament does not fall within a recognised FIFA window, not requiring his club to release him. Abbas was recalled to the Iraq squad in September after more than seven years away from international football and still hopes to represent his country in the Asian Cup despite missing the regional tournament. "It is what it is but I have to just continue to work hard and show them what I have, and hopefully they will call me up again," Abbas said. Hopefully in the Asian Cup I will represent Iraq again. Sydney defender Sasa Ognenovski did not train with the squad on Tuesday because of a minor knock sustained in the goalless draw with Adelaide last week.