Berisha will carry Victory: Muscat
Oct 4, 2017 - 2:41 AM It's the question that keeps Melbourne Victory fans up at night but coach Kevin Muscat isn't thinking about.What happens if Besart Berisha gets injured?
Not that there's a suggestion the A-League's leading marksman isn't fit or primed for the season ahead.
Berisha has shown his trademark intensity in pre-season ahead of his seventh A-League season, his fourth with Victory.
It's just that once again Muscat is rolling the dice by not including another senior striker in his squad.
It's an educated gamble, given Berisha's incredible durability and scoring record.
But it's a gamble all the same with Muscat saying the Kosovo international's track record of 102 goals in 158 games means the prospect of considering a team without him "doesn't come into my mind".
"Bes doesn't miss games. I even can't recall him missing a training session," he said.
At a push, Muscat nominated a new recruit and an 18-year-old as back-up options up front.
"We've got Pierce Waring coming through that's scoring a lot of goals. Leroy (George) can play anywhere across the front four. If need be, we've got a few thoughts of what we could do," he said.
Muscat suggested he would re-visit the strategy in January when Victory's place in the title fight becomes clearer and the club's readiness for an Asian Champions League campaign also comes into focus.
Looking at the squad as a whole it's hard not to see Victory as title challengers once more.
The retention of James Troisi alongside the return of Mark Milligan and Kosta Barbarouses gives the team an international pedigree.
New signing Rhys Williams has undisputed class and the opportunity to show it at Victory after a disrupted first season back in Australia with Perth Glory last term.
Then there's new acquisitions George, from Dutch football, and Matias Sanchez, a veteran of the Argentinian game.
Muscat said they were at different stages of their fitness but both could play a role on Saturday night against Sydney FC.
"With foreigners we're quick to judge them but there are some different dynamics playing in our competition. It's a different type of fitness, playing in different conditions in a different part of the world," he said.
"Matias is fine, he's settled in really well.
"Leroy was the last one in and he's not where we'd want him to be at, no two ways about it.
"But he has some real X-factor and quality ... the early signs are he's going to be an exciting player to watch."
Source: AAP
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