New Melbourne Victory recruit Robbie Kruse sees his move south as a perfect opportunity to re-invigorate a career which has shown so much promise, but is yet to really blossom.
New Melbourne Victory recruit Robbie Kruse sees his move south as a perfect opportunity to re-invigorate a career which has shown so much promise, but is yet to really blossom.
Former Brisbane Roar player Kruse signed on for two years with Melbourne on Thursday in what could prove the most significant step in his short career.
After he spent much of last season in the wilderness, Kruse played the first five games for the Roar this season and he sees the move to the defending champions as crucial to his future.
“I got the call from my agent that Melbourne were interested. And there’s no better place to come and play football. It’s a great team and they play a great style of football. I’m just happy to be here,” he said on Friday.
“I’ve come down here with a new look on life and to focus more on my football. Back home I was distracted a bit, but down here, it seems like there’s great coaching staff here and a great bunch of boys. I will just be concentrating on football and trying my best to help Melbourne win the league.”
Talent and confidence have never been an issue for the lithe attacking youngster and he won many plaudits with his progress in season three of the Hyundai A-League with the Roar. He admits he had too many distractions off-field last season and lost his way, and while he was able to earn a short-term contract with the Roar again this year as injury cover, he needed a change of scenery.
“I think there were options to stay at the Roar, but I think I needed a new start and Ernie (Merrick) showed some interest and I’m happy to be down here and ready to play,” he said.
Kruse was renowned as an out-and-out winger for the Roar, delivering crosses in from out wide. But coach Ernie Merrick sees him playing a more central and attacking role at Melbourne.
“We would play him in a different role than the Roar played him. That’s not putting down the Roar. They play the way, they have to play. We’ve got a different role for him. Gary (Cole) and Aaron (Healey) and I have been scouting him for a couple of years. We’re very fortunate in signing him. He’ll be in a more attacking role, and may be not standing too wide,” Merrick said.
That suits Kruse just fine. Having spent much of his youth playing as a striker he says he is relishing the thought of playing his favourite position again.
“I like to take players on, I like to get in the box and score goals. I think back in Brisbane I wasn’t doing that. I was defending a bit more, hopefully down here I can take players on, create stuff and score goals as well,” he said.
“For me, personally, I-d rather be a bit more in the middle, get the ball more and take more players on in the box and score more goals, instead of staying out wide. I used to do that back in junior days. Obviously at Roar I was out wide, and wherever Ernie wants me to play, I’ll play and do my best.”
Merrick said he may consider Kruse for the squad for the match against Wellington on Sunday after the youngster impressed in his first training run for the club on Friday.
“I was certainly thinking that he’s switched from his club, he had to move down last night, he might not be fresh. He might feel a lot of pressure in the first home game. Being a 20-year-old, I was thinking maybe not,” he said.
“But having seen him perform out there and listened to the senior players, there’s a good chance he’ll be involved in some way shape or form. He’s made a big impact already.”
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