Brazilian Ricardinho is set to make his first start for Melbourne Victory in Sunday’s clash against Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park.
Brazilian Ricardinho is set to make his first start for Melbourne Victory in Sunday’s clash against Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park.
The international marquee signing made his first Hyundai A-League appearance last week, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 2-0 loss to Central Coast in Gosford.
Assistant coach Aaron Healey said all at the club have been impressed by Ricardinho’s progress since arriving last month and felt it was time to put him in the spotlight.
“I have to say Ricardinho has been looking exceptionally good. We just went out there before and played 11 v 11 and he’s looking as if he’ll go close to starting this week, there’s no doubt about that. He adds pace and he gives us something different. I think he’ll come into the starting XI,” Healey said.
Healey revealed Melbourne are likely to go all out attack against the Roar on Sunday, using their new signing alongside youngsters Mate Dugandzic and Robbie Kruse and in front of Johnny Warren Medallist Carlos Hernandez.
“We’re playing at home this weekend. We want to win, we want to entertain the crowd and I think it will be a very attacking line-up,” he said.
Victory’s willingness to throw Ricardinho into the fray from the start after just one appearance is a measure of how highly they rate the Brazilian, but Healey has also urged patience with his development and adjustment.
“He has shown us special things in training. But obviously showing it in training and transferring it onto the pitch is the issue. He needs to do that. We will be patient with him. Let him understand the way we play, understand our defensive and attacking structures. Once he understands that more, he’ll become a very handy acquisition for us,” he said.
Brisbane may have yet to concede a goal in their first four games of the season, but Melbourne are not intimidated by that stat and Healey said they are relishing the challenge of taking on the much-improved Roar defence.
“That’s the challenge, they haven-t conceded a goal yet in their games. We’re up against arguably the best defence in the league. That’s a huge challenge for our strikers and our new strike force, but I think we-ll go close this week,” he said.
