French import gives Roar A-League boost

Oct 19, 2017 - 7:39 AM The long-awaited A-League arrival of French recruit Eric Bautheac could not have come at a better time for Brisbane.

Winless after the first two rounds, the Roar appear to be a club in crisis, with the owners sacking managing director Mark Kingsman on Monday as part of a "restructuring plan."

Roar coach John Aloisi admits the injection of the 30-year-old winger Bautheac is just what they need ahead of their Suncorp Stadium clash with Newcastle.

Former Lille, Dijon and Cannes star Bautheac has received an international transfer clearance to make his Roar debut on Sunday.

Bautheac's Roar signing on a two-season deal was announced last month but a visa approval delay stranded him in France, ensuring he missed Brisbane's first two losses.

"It's definitely a boost for everyone," Aloisi said.

"We had our captain Matt McKay, Fahid Ben Khalfallah and (assistant) Ross (Aloisi) went to the airport to pick him up at 2am (on Wednesday) - that's how excited they were.

"A lot has been going on in the last two-and-a-half years in the background since I have been here, but all our players have wanted to do is perform on the pitch and at training.

"The group is strong and it gives them a lift getting a new player in."

Aloisi was saying little when asked how much game time Bautheac could look forward to on Sunday.

"I don't want to give away too much to Ernie Merrick but he will be involved," he said.

"Whether he starts, we will see but he is physically in pretty good shape."

Asked what he would do if asked to play 90 minutes on Sunday, Bautheac said through an interpreter: "Physically, I am not 100 per cent but I will give all I have got.

"I need to recover from the jet lag a little bit but, whatever happens, as long as I have the team shirt on my back, I will give it my all whether it is for 60 or 90 minutes on Sunday."

Bautheac admitted it would be tough without a good grasp of English and with his children, aged three and six, yet to arrive in Australia.

But he was just glad to finally begin his A-League adventure.

"The wait was very frustrating because I had to train by myself," Bautheac said.

"Physically, I lost a bit of shape and the championship had already started here so it was very frustrating.

"(But) I am very excited to be here. I needed a new challenge. I wanted a new experience and this came along."

Source: AAP