Brisbane Roar playmaker Charlie Miller has urged his makeshift midfield to continue its fighting form in the absence of veterans Massimo Murdocca and Matt McKay.
Murdocca and McKay’s no-nonsense ‘M and M’ partnership in the Roar’s midfield has been a trademark of the club since it competed in the inaugural Hyundai A-League season.
Roar coach Frank Farina has been forced to look at other options after Murdocca broke his leg in the pre-season and McKay did serious damage to his knee two weeks ago.
Central defender Bob Malcolm and dynamic duo Henrique and Mitch Nichols will be the latest to fill the breach when they start in the middle against the Newcastle Jets on Saturday.
Farina will soon be forced to make changes again, with Nichols due to depart for a training camp in Cyprus ahead of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Miller admitted the club was missing Murdocca and McKay’s work-rate in the engine room.
“There is no doubt about it – but we just have to get on with it,” Miller said.
“We don’t have to change our style, but we lost nearly 24 or 28 kilometers a match – whatever they run – and we lost their enthusiasm.”
The Scotsman was sure his side could bounce back after playing ‘very poorly’ in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with North Queensland.
“It’s not all about Matty and Massimo, even though how well they do for us,” he said.
“We’re a team and we can go and do well – we lost the first game, but we’re unbeaten since – and have not played well.”
“So we must be doing something right, if we’re not doing well and still getting points.”
Miller’s 2008/09 campaign was severely disrupted due to a double hernia, but the 33-year-old was upbeat he was back on the path to full fitness.
“I’ve only played one full 90 minutes, and I struggled to get 90 minutes last week,” he said.
“I’m getting there, the more I play – the fitter I’ll get. Hopefully I can play the rest of the season, because I didn’t do that last season.”
