Victory send defender Donachie to surgeons

Oct 18, 2017 - 2:01 AM Without an A-League point after two rounds, Melbourne Victory have suffered a further setback with the news defender James Donachie needs surgery.

Donachie injured his right quad in Victory's 2-1 loss to Melbourne City on Saturday night and faces a rehabilitation that could sideline him until 2018.

Victory skipper Carl Valeri shared his dismay at the prognosis for the first-choice centre back.

"He's going to need surgery. How long, times and his recovery, we really don't know. We're going to get a second opinion," Valeri said on Wednesday.

"It's unfortunate and we're gutted for him and we'll miss him.

"I feel sorry for Donks because I was excited to see where he could reach this year.

"That's the way it is and he will bounce back stronger."

Rookie defender Thomas Deng will step into the breach for Friday night's trip to Adelaide Oval, where Victory will be desperate to a avoid the club's first 0-3 start to an A-League season.

With another player unavailability crunch on the horizon, Victory can't afford another defeat.

Internationals James Troisi and Kosta Barbarouses are certain to miss round five and six with their national teams, with Young Socceroos attacker Christian Theoharous also away.

On-the-cusp pair Jai Ingham and Rhys Williams might also be called up for New Zealand and Australian duty.

Socceroos veteran Mark Milligan will stay with the team for the round-five date with Western Sydney, but miss the round-six match with Brisbane.

Thankfully for Victory, their round-seven match -- away to Perth -- falls on a Sunday, which will give their senior internationals the maximum recovery time after national team duty.

Valeri, himself a decorated former Socceroos midfielder, said the club could cover for international call-ups.

"It's a reward for good players and we have good players. So be it," he said.

"We saw against Sydney a very strong line-up that put up an exciting and extremely strong performance. We've got the depth."

While acknowledging the club's poor start, Valeri said the Victory wouldn't be panicking after two matches.

"Our performances were good," he said.

"If they'd been rubbish maybe we would have to change.

"We're going to to go out there and do that little bit extra that was missing from the last game.

"(Our focus is) 100 per cent Adelaide.

"No other fixtures. No international duty.

"We can't afford to have any more lapses."

Source: AAP