Defender Matthew Foschini is enjoying being back in action for Victory, but knows he has to keep on performing if he is to hold his place in the starting team.
Defender Matthew Foschini is enjoying being back in action for Victory, but knows he has to keep on performing if he is to hold his place in the starting team.
Foschini played his first match for Victory in over a month last week against Adelaide with suspension and Qantas Australian U-23s duty forcing him out of his side’s four previous encounters.
“Good to be back playing. Obviously missed four games with Olyroos and suspension so it’s just good to get back with the boys and out on the park and hopefully we can get a few wins,” he said after training on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old featured in both of the Olyroos’ Olympic qualifiers in November and admitted it was a tough experience given that the second match in Parramatta was just five days after they played Iraq in Doha.
“Had a bit of a rest when I got back, eased into things and I felt good at the weekend against Adelaide and I’m ready for the Phoenix this week,” he added.
Foschini spent much of his first two years at the club as an understudy to veteran Matthew Kemp with 16 of his first 17 appearances coming from the bench.
Under new coach Mehmet Durakovic, Foschini has started all six matches that he has been available for and he knows he must continue to perform if he is to hold his place in the team.
“Competition for spots in any organisation (is good) and it keeps everyone on their toes and Kempy’s a great player and I know if I’m not performing then I’ll just be straight out of the team again,” he said.
“I just got to keep playing and keep improving and getting the best out of myself week in week out so I can try and cement a spot in the team because I’ve worked hard for it.”
Victory will be searching for the third win of the season when they take on the Phoenix on Sunday and while Foschini said it will be a tough match, they can take solace from the fact they have already beaten them earlier in the year.
“It’s always good to know that you’ve beaten the opposition already this year. In saying that, they’ll be even more fired up and want to come and get us even more so we’ve just got to be on our toes and just play our natural game and hopefully we can get the three points,” he said.
“I watched a bit of them at the weekend and they’ve got some class players, (Paul) Ifill and the like.”
“They’re always dangerous, especially up front they’ve got some big boys and they always like to throw their weight around so we just got to be on our toes especially at the back.”
