Melbourne Victory Head Coach Marco Kurz will take a near full-strength squad to Adelaide this weekend as the team looks to bounce back from consecutive defeats.
A number of Victory’s stars will return for the clash at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night including Kenny Athiu, Thomas Deng, Elvis Kamsoba and Storm Roux (international duties) as well as injured duo Andrew Nabbout and Tim Hoogland.
Hoogland is yet to make an appearance for Victory since arriving at the club from German side VfL Bochum in the off-season having injured his quad in Victory’s final training session before the season opener.
All players are a welcome return for Kurz who will make his first trip back to Adelaide in charge of Victory.
“Andrew Nabbout is back in the squad and also Tim Hoogland is travelling with the team,” said Kurz.
“That means good news and we travel to Adelaide and feel confident to get a good result there.
“Nabbout started to train with the team two weeks ago. The decision last week was that it was too early, but he looks very confident now and maybe he is an option [to start] but I’m not sure at the moment, the decision is not done.
“Hoogland won’t play from the beginning of the game but it’s good to have him in the team. He is a leader, it is always good for the team to have him around, so I’m happy to have him back as well.
“Only one will travel direct to Adelaide which is Elvis. Storm is back, Kenny is back and Thomas Deng as well.
“All are fit and looking good.”
The six players returning to the squad join Robbie Kruse on the comeback list after the striker successfully made his Hyundai A-League return last week in Sydney.
It gives Kurz a sense of the team perhaps starting to turn the corner, however results are still the priority.
“Yes it’s our goal and our job to return and fight back in a better way with results and points,” said Kurz.
“We are a passionate club and it’s a tough situation for all of us – for the players, for me, for the coaches – but also for our members and fans.
“We want to find the return and I think it’s a good game tomorrow to play well and have a chance to get a result.
“If you don’t get the result you expected, you must keep working hard and stay positive – that’s very important.
“We made this, now it’s up to us. Tomorrow we have a big chance in a big game and in front of a good crowd to get a good result. That’s our clear goal – we travel to Adelaide to get the three points.”
Melbourne Victory face Adelaide United on Saturday, November 23 from 7:30pm AEDT at Coopers Stadium.
