Brett Emerton talks up potential impact of Socceroos flyer Robbie Kruse at Asian Cup

“CAREER-BEST” form awaits Robbie Kruse, according to the man he replaced, with Brett Emerton predicting the winger could explode at the Asian Cup.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 19: Robbie Kruse of the Socceroos controls the ball during the international friendly match between the Australian Socceroos and Costa Rica at Allianz Stadium on November 19, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

“CAREER-BEST” form awaits Robbie Kruse, according to the man he replaced, with former Socceroo Brett Emerton predicting the winger could explode at next month’s Asian Cup.

Kruse missed the Brazil World Cup in heartbreaking fashion, when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament last January.

Robbie Kruse could play a big role for the Socceroos in the Asian Cup.

He was a late sub in Bayer Leverkusen’s 5-1 win over Cologne over the weekend, just his fourth appearance for the Germans since returning in August.

Emerton had a knee reconstruction in 2009 and returned just in time for South Africa 2010, where he was a key part of Pim Verbeek’s squad and went on to win 95 caps.

“It depends on what game time Robbie’s getting with his club, but barring that he’ll be flying come January,’’ Emerton said.

“I only came back a few months before the 2010 World Cup.

“It’s a serious injury but the surgery, treatment and rehab you receive these days is first class and you come back like nothing’s happened.

“When I came back from my reconstruction it was probably the best form of my life.

“I came back fitter and stronger than I ever was before. I had the chance to work hard in the gym, I changed my nutrition, I ate better, I trained harder.

“So he shouldn’t fear the injury. He’s got lots of ability, he’s shown that but unfortunately he suffered the serious injury.

“Hopefully we’ll see him back in top form soon because he and Mathew Leckie, the wide men, and maybe Tommy Oar, need to be at their best, supplying Timmy Cahill.’’

Emerton, who played his last Socceroos game under Holger Osieck, said coach Ange Postecoglou’s team must become more resolute if they want to win the Asian Cup.

“I admire the way Ange wants to play, he wants to play a nice, attractive and attacking style,’’ he said.

“But any success has to be built on a solid defensive formation too, so if anything we need to sure up our back four and that will bring us more success.

“We can win it. People underestimate home ground advantage and historically we’ve been hard to beat at home.’’

But Emerton, who played in two Asian Cups, warned the new boys not to underestimate their opponents.

“All teams have good quality and on their day they can hurt you,’’ Emerton said.

“We experienced that in 2007 where we thought it might be easier than what it was.

“But we’ve played in Asia long enough now to know that.

“The difficulty of playing in Asia is a lot of the players you come up against are technically and all-round good players but because they don’t play in the highest profile leagues in the world it’s hard to know what you’re coming up against.

“Many Japan players are playing in Europe’s top leagues and you’re familiar with their style of play.

“Teams like Kuwait and Oman are very unpredictable.’’

Originally published as Brett Emerton talks up potential impact of Socceroos flyer Robbie Kruse at Asian Cup