Carle poised to rejoin Sydney

And the Sky Blues said they would welcome him with open arms.

Carle left Sydney only weeks before the start of the A-League season to try his luck with the Abu Dhabi-based club for a year.

Baniyas, which lies third in the United Arab Emirates Pro-League table, has not yet approached Sydney about its intentions regarding Carle, which has led the player and the Sky Blues to believe that he could be free to return home to complete the final year of his contract.

“My loan period with Baniyas ends on 30 June but I will have another year to go in my contract with Sydney FC,” Carle said.

”So my immediate future lies with Sydney.

”At the moment I am concentrating on my commitments with Baniyas where we still have a few more games to go.

”I am very happy at the moment but I don't know what the plan is for me.

”But by the same token I would be very glad to return home to play for Sydney FC again.”

Carle's sudden departure freed up a marquee spot that has since been filled by Italian World Cup star Alessandro Del Piero, who is expected to stay on for another season.

Carle said the prospect of playing alongside such a world famous footballer was irresistible.

”Coming home would be great and playing alongside Alessandro del Piero would be a massive bonus,” he said.

”He has lifted the profile of the club and the league so one hopes that he hangs around for another season.”

Del Piero's 'trequartista' role is similar to Carle's but the 13-time Socceroos player said he would not feel challenged to make the team's starting line-up, essentially because he is no longer the No 10 A-League fans grew accustomed to watching over the years.

”In my last season for Sydney I was not considered a No 10 anymore and over here I have been playing in other midfield roles which gives me more time on the ball,” he explained.

”That way my attributes are used in a creative sense.”

Sydney coach Frank Farina, who this week was named as club coach for the next two seasons, said that Carle was such a gifted player that he would love to have him in his squad for next season.

”Nicky is a good player and there will always be room for good players in my team,” Farina said.

”So he should not feel overawed by Alessandro's presence, also because they are not quite similar players.”

Sydney chief executive Tony Pignata said the club was still in the dark over Baniyas's intentions regarding Carle.

”We have written to them asking them what they want to do with Nicky but we have not heard anything,” Pignata said.

”We would like to know their thoughts as to whether they want to sign him up permanently or not.

”We know that he has been playing very well.

”He's a quality player and it would be great to have him back.”

Pignata said another loan deal was not an option.