Robbie returns to bolster Victory

ROBBIE Kruse looms as Melbourne Victory’s saviour after the club’s slow and injury-riddled start to the A-League season.

Having demanded an improvement on last season’s poor outcome, Victory coach Grant Brebner is anything but pleased with his team’s progress in the 2020-21 campaign.

While they have played two fewer games than some other clubs, the Victory are bottom of the ladder with no points from two matches.

Adding to their woes are respective hamstring and ankle injuries suffered by key imports Rudy Gestede and Callum McManaman in the 1-0 weekend loss to Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium.

“It’s not great that we don’t have those two players because they are big players for us – they’ll win us games,” Brebner said of the former English Premier League pair, who will miss the clash with Perth Glory at AAMI Park on Tuesday. But the Victory do have Kruse.

The Socceroos attacker impressed in his return from a knee injury in a second-half cameo in Adelaide, and he’s set to start against Perth.

“We need Robbie Kruse,” Brebner said.

“We need a fit Robbie Kruse in our team, and it gives us another look and a better look.

“Robbie’s merited his start (against the Glory). Robbie’s fully in my thoughts to start the game.”

The Victory also need to be sharp in defence against a Glory side that has scored nine goals in just two matches, and includes Uruguayan ace Bruno Fornaroli.

“They’ve had a free-flowing, goalscoring couple of games. It is our job to stop them scoring, no matter who we are against,” Brebner said. “We have a defensive side of our game which isn’t too bad. We have players that are coming together and understanding each other. Collectively and defensively we are a strong team.”