Auckland FC have been dealt a big blow heading into the new A-League Men season, with confirmation striker Sam Cosgrove will miss the first two games of the Black Knights’ title defence.
The striker played a pivotal role during the 2025/26 season, as his 12 league goals saw him take out an equal share of the Golden Boot award, helping the Black Knights clinch the Isuzu UTE A-League Championship.
But new boss Pedro Moreira will now be without the towering Englishman for the season opener with Melbourne City on Saturday, October 17 as well as their Matchweek 2 trip to Western Sydney Wanderers following his sending off in the recent 1-0 loss to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli.
Cosgrove was penalised for an accidental challenge on midfielder Valentin Atangana in the 87th minute of the hard-fought loss in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Jeddah, with the straight-red card subsequently confirmed as being a two-game ban.
The A-Leagues Golden Boot winner will now be sidelined for the first two games of the 2026/27 campaign, with Cosgrove then cleared to return for the Matchweek 3 trip to Brisbane Roar on Friday, October 30 at Suncorp Stadium.
Forward Jonty Bidois could be the player tasked with replacing Cosgrove in attack for the opening two matches of the season.
The 21-year-old led the line for the Black Knights in their recent 3-1 pre-season loss to the Wanderers over the weekend, with new signing Lachlan Bayliss getting on the scoresheet for Auckland in the game that was played in Napier.
