Berisha to learn from A-League suspension

Nov 9, 2017 - 2:13 AM A contrite Besart Berisha says he deserved his A-League suspension as he prepares to return for winless Melbourne Victory.

The A-League's record goal scorer copped a two-week ban for unsporting conduct after pushing an official in Victory's round-three draw with Adelaide United.

His absence has come at a bad time for Kevin Muscat's men, who have started the season in sluggish fashion and sit seventh on the ladder with three draws and two losses.

With Berisha available, last year's grand finalists will look to improve their record when they face ninth-placed Brisbane on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.

"I touched the referee and you cannot touch the referee," Berisha said on Thursday in his first public comments on the suspension.

"I got two games and I accept it and I've moved on.

"Obviously, you have to learn from mistakes ... I hope that was a lesson and definitely I learn from it."

Victory put in a spirited display on Monday to secure a 1-1 draw with Western Sydney, despite being reduced to 10 men after Mitch Austin was given a second yellow card.

They will face the Roar without Socceroos duo James Troisi and Mark Milligan and New Zealand's Kosta Barbarouses, all on international duty, as well as the suspended Austin.

Berisha is confident Victory will have sufficient firepower with Jai Ingham and dynamic Dutchman Leroy George, who has been an exciting addition to the side's attack.

"I hope so. We want to definitely go out on Saturday and try to win the game and try to score a lot of goals," the Kosovo national said.

"We need the three points badly.

"We are positive and we have the players with Jai and Leroy that proved in the past that they can come in and do the job."

Brisbane will also field a depleted side, missing Michael Theo (finger), Luke DeVere (knee) and Corey Brown (hamstring).

While they have looked a long way from their best this season, Berisha was confident Victory weren't far from finding form.

"We have everything it takes to compete in this league, to win this league, but it just has to click," he said.

"I hope it's this weekend."

Source: AAP