Roar look for next key striker

BRISBANE Roar are planning for life without striker Jamie Maclaren, with Central Coast Mariners marksman Roy O’Donovan among those on their short-list for next season.

Maclaren, who has scored 33 goals in 46 A-League appearances for the Roar, remains uncontracted for next season, having rejected a Brisbane offer to re-sign him.

There has been little communication between Maclaren’s agent Paddy Dominguez and Roar officials since the club’s bid to keep the former Perth Glory forward beyond this season was spurned in November last year.

It’s highly doubtful Maclaren will be in Brisbane next season, which has led to the Roar looking around for a new goalscorer. O’Donovan is one striker who has caught the eye of Roar coach John Aloisi and the club’s football director Craig Moore.

The 31-year-old attacker has been capped twice by Ireland, and made 17 appearances in the English Premier League for Sunderland in the 2007-08 season.

Since joining the Mariners in 2015, O’Donovan has scored 18 goals in 41 A-League appearances.

But he is yet to commit to remaining with the Gosfordbased club beyond this season.

The Roar won’t restrict their search for a new striker to the A-League as they also look overseas.

They have room in their permitted quota of visa players, with Danish midfielder Thomas Kristensen the only foreigner currently on Brisbane’s books for next season.

The now fit Kristensen will anchor fourth-placed Brisbane’s midfield tomorrow when they visit Coopers Stadium to take on Adelaide United.

– MARCO MONTEVERDE