Melbourne Victory striker Danny Allsopp says he cannot wait to play alongside Archie Thompson and Robbie Kruse even after impressively carrying the load in the pair’s absence.
Melbourne Victory striker Danny Allsopp says he cannot wait to play alongside Archie Thompson and Robbie Kruse even after impressively carrying the load in the pair-s absence.
The 32-year-old took his tally to five goals in his last four matches with a superb double in Victory-s 2-0 home win over Gold Coast at AAMI Park on Sunday.
It is no coincidence that Victory has gone unbeaten during Allsopp-s scoring streak, proving just why coach Ernie Merrick brought the well-travelled forward back for his second spell at the club in late December.
“I-m obviously delighted with the way things are going at the moment,” Allsopp said.
“It-s definitely a lot easier when I have a role in the team that suits me and I-ve got players like Carlos (Hernandez) especially and other guys who keep putting the ball in the right areas.”
“It will be great to get Archie and Robbie back as well with us up front, it-s really a great sign for the end of the season.”
Kruse, who featured in the Socceroos Asian Cup campaign, is expected to return for Wednesday-s match against Newcastle, while Thompson is pencilled for his comeback from a hamstring injury for Victory-s final match in Adelaide nine days later.
Quizzed on whether he thought the trio could fit in the same line-up along with Hernandez, Allsopp replied.
“I think so, we haven-t all played (together) before, (but) we always seem to be able to work things out, I guess that-s Ernie-s job to make sure we all can,” Allsopp said.
“I know what Archie-s about, and (while) I haven-t played with Robbie, we-ll deal with that when it happens. It-s a good position to have.”
Coach Merrick agreed with the three-time former Socceroo, who enjoyed spells at English League clubs Manchester City, Notts County, Wrexham, Bristol Rovers and Hull City.
“I-d like to have that problem,” Merrick said.
Of greater concern for the Victory coach is the health of Hernandez, who came off with a groin injury at halftime of the Gold Coast game.
Merrick revealed the Costa Rican star is expected to miss the final two regular season matches as a result.
“The physio has assessed him and the groin is not good, he-ll probably have to have a break now I-d say,” Merrick said.
“He-s been playing with injuries, (even) Dan has an injury to his thigh, but that-s the quality of our players, they-re willing to play with injuries.”
Back to Allsopp and his double saw him move to third on the A-League-s all-time goal-scoring charts behind Thompson and Gold Coast striker Shane Smeltz, who missed the Victory clash with a mystery illness.
Allsopp now has 41 goals in 95 appearances for Victory on the back of five from six appearances since rejoining the club following stints in Qatar and America-s MLS competition.