Robbie Slater says Jamie Maclaren’s self-belief in front of goal at the moment is reminiscent of Premier League legend Alan Shearer.
Maclaren, 26, scored twice for Melbourne City in the club’s 2-1 win over Adelaide United on Sunday – the Caltex Socceroo striker’s fifth and sixth goals in 11 days.
The Australian, fresh from an international hat-trick against Nepal on October 10 and a goal against Chinese Taipei last Tuesday, is clearly one of the hottest properties in the Hyundai A-League right now.
It is why FOX Sports commentator Slater, who played alongside Shearer at Blackburn Rovers during the club’s famous 1994/95 Premier League-winning campaign, can see shades of the legendary English marksman in City’s number nine.
“He’s in super form at the moment,” Slater said.
“He’s got a genuine belief now that he’s going to score in every game he plays.
“I played with a great player at Blackburn Rovers all those years ago who has that exact belief, maybe on another level but it’s still the same thing.”
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Shearer scored 260 goals in 14 Premier League seasons for Newcastle United and Blackburn – the club with whom Maclaren played the formative stages of his youth career.
“He’s scored six in the FFA Cup,” Slater continued.
“He scored a hat-trick against Nepal… he then comes on against Chinese Taipei and the way he took that goal said to me ‘this guy is in full confidence’.”
That confidence was on show in Maclaren’s predatory four-minute double for Erick Mombaerts’ side against the Reds in a dress rehearsal for Wednesday evening’s FFA Cup 2019 Final.
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He may have added a third during the second half at AAMI Park, but was wrapped in cotton wool by City boss Mombaerts ahead of their trip to the City of Churches.
“You’ve got to understand there’s a bigger picture, we’ve got (the FFA Cup Final) on Wednesday and I understand that,” Maclaren said.
“I’m in form, I’m confident, I’m happy and pleased the manager looks after me as well.”
Maclaren now has 58 goals in 101 Hyundai A-League games for Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar and City.
He is seventh on the Hyundai A-League’s all-time scorers chart.
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