Melbourne Victory star Archie Thompson is expected to be fit to face the Newcastle Jets in their Hyundai A-League clash at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Melbourne Victory star Archie Thompson is expected to be fit to face the Newcastle Jets in their Hyundai A-League clash at AAMI Park on Sunday.
The 34-year-old has missed two matches with a hamstring injury but trained strongly at Gosch’s Paddock on Friday.
Victory coach Ange Postecoglou said Thompson was likely to take on the Jets, if he pulled up well and got through a short session on Saturday.
“He was moving pretty well this morning – still got a session to get through,” Postecoglou said after training.
“He’s pretty keen to get back amongst it. It’s great to have him back in the side.
“He’s obviously an important part of what we do, particularly here at home. It’ll be great for our supporters to see him out there again.
“He’s done everything right in terms of the rehab and in terms of the time out. This was always the plan and he’s ticked all those boxes.
“We’ve still got one session to go. Probably the fact that it’s a Sunday game helps as well but all signs are he’ll be all right.”
Thompson is likely to come in for Connor Pain in the only change to the side which suffered a 6-2 loss to Central Coast on Saturday night.
Postecoglou said it was a ‘very poor’ performance from his side, one which they needed to avoid in the future.
He believes his team will respond to three straight losses with a strong showing against the Jets, who will be without attacking duo Emile Heskey and Michael Bridges.
“The performance on Sunday will show how the week’s been for us,” he said.
“That’s the most important thing for us, to get back to playing some good football and Sunday gives us that opportunity.
“Whatever the reaction is from last week or the last few weeks, we’ll see on Sunday.”
Heading into the last five matches of the regular season, Postecoglou said Victory could be a threat in the finals if they found their best form
“I think form going into finals is the best indicator you’ve got,” Postecoglou said.
“From our perspective, whatever’s happened last week or the week before it’s really important the next five weeks we hit our best form of the year.
“If we do that, on the eve of the finals, it gives us the best chance to perform well and win the competition.
“I think even if we were flying at this stage, my main focus would be to make sure we maintained it right up until the finals series.
“There’s no point peaking today and not being right when the finals come around.”
Playmaker Marcos Flores will resume running tomorrow and is ‘a chance’ to face the Brisbane Roar next week as he continues his recovery from a quad strain.
