Gold Coast defender Kristian Rees is looking forward to having all his attacking weapons back on deck as United searches for its first win in a month.
Up against his former team Wellington Phoenix for the first time, Rees is confident that the inclusion of Joel Porter, Shane Smeltz, Robson and Jason Culina is the recipe for success.
The foursome have had their season’s interrupted by injury, suspension and international duty and will be back together for the first time since United’s Round 1 disposal of Brisbane Roar.
“It’s taken a while to get them back together,” Rees said.
“They showed against Brisbane just how dangerous they can be, so I’m expecting a lot from them and looking forward to seeing them create plenty of opportunities and hopefully put a few goals away.”
In recent weeks Rees has been pushing forward in search of a goal and he thinks that the return of the big guns allows him the opportunity to play his more natural game from the back.
His combination with Porter on the right has proved one of United’s key attacking options in recent weeks.
“Joel (Porter) has always given me an option as an outlet to play, I can play to his feet all day and he is never going to lose the ball.”
“I don’t think there are many defenders in Australia that would be able to get the ball off him once he is holding it up.”
Porter will take the field for his second match back from a calf injury while the leagues leading scorer, Shane Smeltz, returns from a one-match suspension.
“Smeltz has got an unbelievable first touch, he can just take the ball away from the defender.”
“If you put him in a one-on-one situation or give him half a sniff he is going to take it … he is deadly in front of goal.”
After overcoming a niggling knee injury of his own, Rees is now set to take his place in the side and will be looking to make it a tough night for his old team-mates.
“The biggest thing for me as a defender is to keep a clean sheet.”
“If we keep a clean sheet we cant lose and the rest is up to the forwards.”
