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Feb 16, 2021   |  7:10AM AET

Brebner on McManaman’s return

Brebner on McManaman’s return

Melbourne Victory Head Coach Grant Brebner has provided an update on attacking duo Callum McManaman and Marco Rojas ahead of this Sunday’s A-League clash against the Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park.

McManaman has missed Melbourne’s last four games through injury but is back in full training and eager to return to action.

Meanwhile, Rojas continues to recover from a high challenge sustained during last week’s defeat against the Western Sydney Wanderers.

 

McManaman

“McManaman has looked really good and it has been a long time coming – we’ve wanted him back, we’ve needed him back to be fair,” said Brebner.

The Head Coach believes giving McManaman maximum time to recover has allowed the Englishman to return at full strength.

“He has shown in the last few training sessions that he is 100% now and that was the key, we could’ve brought him back at 70% but it wouldn’t have done him any favours.

“The fact that we’ve now got him at 100% is fantastic,” Brebner said.

Rojas

Brebner was forced to make a substitution 24 minutes into the game at Bankwest Stadium, as Rojas was on the receiving end of Graham Dorrans’ right boot.

“He has suffered a fracture to the nose and required stitches on his nose as well. He is still suffering from concussion.

“The doctors and the medical staff are still across it daily and I have spoken to Marco. There’s a huge improvement from yesterday which is great,” said Brebner.

Despite some improvement from Rojas, Brebner has ruled the New Zealander out of this weekend’s tie

“I think this game will come a little bit too soon for him unfortunately, because it is a concussion we can’t rush him back.”

Form

Brebner believes the return of a number of key players will help his side become a more dangerous outfit.

“We need to get Marco Rojas, Callum McManaman, Robbie Kruse and Rudy Gestede on the pitch at the same time to be a real threat,” said the Head Coach.

Gestede made his return against the Western Sydney Wanderers, coming off the bench for the remaining 30 minutes.

“We want our best players on the park and when we do that, we will look a different proposition up front,” Brebner said.