Melbourne Victory to assess squad for Brisbvane Roar clash as frustrating season continues

Melbourne Victory have returned from their Champions League clash in Japan with no points, but plenty of positives. And David Davutovic reports there will be changes ahead of their A-League clash with Brisbane.

Ola Toivonen is over a tummy bug. Pic: AAP

Melbourne Victory boss Kevin Muscat quipped that the silver lining to this season’s injury and illness woes has been an increased medical vocabulary.

Refreshed Georg Niedermeier, who’s endured the most frustrating season of all, has a huge role to play on his return to the first XI for Saturday’s clash with Brisbane Roar, in the absence of suspended James Donachie and Olyroos-bound Tommy Deng.

Midfielder Terry Antonis (knee) is also likely to miss, with teenager Anthony Lesiotis a big chance to retain his spot after an impressive Champions League debut.

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Donachie’s suspension — a la Niedermeier’s from the Round previous — are in the ‘preventable’ category, which would irk Muscat and his coaching staff.

But Swedish striker Ola Toivonen’s stomach bug — which he appears to have shaken, after leaving him flat in the 2-1 loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima — joined the lengthy queue of unlucky injuries, along with Honda’s rare hamstring condition and Niedermeier’s concussions.

Georg Niedermeier should return to face Roar. Pic: AAP

Neidermeier, who stayed behind as he was the visa omission from the Champions League squad, looks set to go.

“I’m learning more and more new illnesses and injuries this season,’’ Muscat said.

“He (Toivonen) came down with a bit of a temperature, fever. Thought he was okay but you could clearly see that he was battling and wasn’t himself.

“Very much like our season really, where every time we seem to get someone back, someone drops out.

“It’s so disappointing for anybody to miss out (on the Champions League), what I will say is Georg has handled himself impeccably. He’s had a season of concussion, concussion, rolled ankle, calf injury, suspension.

“Just hasn’t had an opportunity to get any momentum and a lot of it out of his control.

“But he’s been the ultimate professional and conducted himself very well.”

Kevin Muscat’s squad has its injury worries. Pic: Getty Images

Muscat and high performance chief Anthony Crea will assess the players on Friday, after they returned today from the Champions League clash in Japan with no points but plenty of positives.

With Victory facing Roar at Marvel Stadium, a second hard surface in five days will also be factored in, after playing on a hard deck in Hiroshima.

“We played some really good stuff. To dominate possession against a team that finished second in the JLeague is no mean feat,’’ he said.

“Yes they were a goal ahead, but the areas we had possession for me was telling.

“It (Roar) is the type of time of the year where the importance is highlighted because there’s six league games left.”

Originally published as Melbourne Victory to assess squad for Brisbvane Roar clash as frustrating season continues