Brisbane Roar’s Thomas Broich admits he is frustrated at his lack of goals this season

THOMAS Broich has never been a prodigious goalscorer for Brisbane but the Roar playmaker admits the time has come to end this season’s drought.

Brisbane Roar training at Griffith Uni fields. Thomas Broich. Pic Jono Searle.

THOMAS Broich has never been a prodigious goalscorer for Brisbane but the Roar playmaker admits the time has come to end this season’s drought.

Broich, who much prefers to set up goals rather than score himself, is yet to hit the back of the net in 11 rounds of the club’s A-League campaign.

Broich has scored 18 goals in 153 appearances in all competitions since joining the Roar in 2010.

While it has not hurt his status as the A-League’s best player or the Roar’s effort of winning three championships since he moved to Brisbane, the former German under-21 international would love to return to the scoring charts on Sunday against Melbourne City at Suncorp Stadium.

“It’s nice to get all the assists but … I expect to score. It’s not for a lack of trying,” Broich said.

“I’m getting into decent positions lately and I think goals are going to come.’’

Roar coach John Aloisi agreed.

“Thomas is getting in great positions to score, and eventually he’ll put a few away,” Aloisi said.

“He’s never scored a lot of goals in his time here but you can never doubt the other things he does for us.’’

Broich will again be part of an attacking line that includes in-form striker Jamie Maclaren, who has overcome the shin injury that forced him off in Brisbane’s 1-0 weekend win over Central Coast Mariners in Gosford.

Coach John Aloisi oversees Brisbane Roar training at Griffith Uni fields.

Midfielder Steve Lustica has been ruled out of Sunday’s clash due to an abdominal tear.

Maclaren was named along with Roar teammates James Donachie and Brandon Borrello in the Olyroos squad for next month’s AFC under-23 championships in Qatar.

Australia must finish in the top three to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio.

“I’ve got two games to go for Brisbane Roar (before leaving for the championships) and I want to keep my form through that and hopefully go away and continue that form,” said Maclaren, who has scored six goals this season.

Defender Donachie and winger Borrello were chosen by Olyroos coach Aurelio Vidmar despite currently being on the selection outer with Brisbane.

Left back Corey Brown, who has not played in the A-League since October 31, was not as fortunate, being overlooked by Vidmar.

The Olyroos squad also includes Bundaberg product Josh Brillante, who plays for Italian second division club Como.

Meanwhile, A-League leaders Western Sydney Wanderers will move five points clear of the second-placed Roar if they beat Newcastle Jets at Pirtek Stadium.

The Jets will at least temporarily move into the top six if they can upset the Wanderers, who have won seven of their past eight matches.

Originally published as Brisbane Roar’s Thomas Broich admits he is frustrated at his lack of goals this season