Harry Kewell has managed only one goal this season and that was from the penalty spot, but Melbourne Victory coach Mehmet Durakovic thinks it’s only a matter of time before his star player finds his scoring touch.
Harry Kewell has managed only one goal this season and that was from the penalty spot, but Melbourne Victory coach Mehmet Durakovic thinks it’s only a matter of time before his star player finds his scoring touch.
Kewell has featured in nine of Victory’s 11 matches this season, but it took him until their Round 8 clash against Gold Coast for him to score his first goal in the Hyundai A-League.
The goal scoring record may not be prolific for a player of Kewell’s calibre, but Durakovic believes the 33-year-old is on the brink of going on a goal scoring streak – starting with Victory’s sold out derby clash with the Heart at AAMI Park on Friday night.
“It will come (for Harry),” Durakovic said.
“Harry’s chances will come and sooner or later and he will hit the back of the net and then nothing will be stopping him.
“Nobody wants Harry not to score. We all want him to score, but as long as he is creating the chances, sooner or later he will score.”
While goals haven’t been a feature of Kewell’s game so far this season, Durakovic has been happy with the way he has been performing.
“The last four weeks Harry has been a different class,” he said.
“He has come here with a big reputation as he is one of the best footballers we (Australia) have ever produced. We are all very happy with the way he has been playing.”
Despite the fact the Heart sit three points ahead of the Victory on the Hyundai A-League table, Durakovic remains confident his side will jump in front of their cross-town rival by the time the final whistle goes on Friday night.
“We have had four great games with some great results in the last month so I am very happy with the way our football has been going,” Durakovic said.
“The last four weeks we have been creating chances to win by four or five goals, everybody has been doing their job the way I want them to play and it has been working.”
Durakovic said striker Archie Thompson had recovered well from the ankle injury he picked up against the Phoenix on Sunday and would be fit enough to play 90 minutes against the Heart.
The Victory boss also revealed he had yet to make up his mind as to who would replace Billy Celeski in the starting XI, with the midfielder suspended for the Heart clash after picking up a red card in the last round.
