http://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/heart-set-to-sign-former-socceroo-garcia-to-bolster-side-20120815-248y3.html
MELBOURNE Heart is poised to sign former Socceroo Richard Garcia, subject to the injury-plagued 30-year-old passing a medical.
Garcia played for Australia at the 2010 World Cup and spent two seasons in the English Premier League with Hull City.
The West Australian moved to England as a teenager, and in 13 years there played for West Ham United, Colchester United and Leyton Orient as well as Hull, with the bulk of his career spent in the championship and the premiership. Garcia's career has been curtailed in recent times because of knee injuries, but he finished his last contract with Hull, starting in 10 matches in the second half of the championship campaign in 2011-12.
Should the Heart deal come through, Garcia will be used as a central midfielder, probably sitting deeper and playing behind the two mobile box-to-box midfielders, Matt Thompson and Fred.
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That might come as a surprise to local fans who, knowing him mainly from his Socceroo appearances, have pigeonholed him as a winger.
But Heart football manager John Didulica says Garcia has a pedigree as a central midfielder, which makes him well-equipped to fulfil the role here.
''He played in that position when he was younger at West Ham and also played that sort of role in the championship. This is the A-League, not the Premier League or championship, and he is a skilful player with good technique who can play in a central position here,'' he said.
''Kevin Muscat, who had spent all his life as a full-back and defender, showed when he came back and moved into midfield, where he had such an enormous impact for Melbourne Victory, that if you are a good player you can play that deeper role in the A-League.''
Didulica says if Garcia gets medical approval, he would have no concerns about his physical capabilities