Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou believes the sky is the limit for Marco Rojas, with the young winger’s scintillating performance in the 2-2 draw with Central Coast just a glimpse of his talent.
Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou believes the sky is the limit for Marco Rojas, with the young winger’s scintillating performance in the 2-2 draw with Central Coast just a glimpse of his talent.
Rojas was the standout in Saturday’s match at Etihad Stadium, proving a constant headache for the Mariners’ defence.
As well as displaying all his trickery, the New Zealand international provided the cross for Andrew Nabbout’s goal – Victory’s first for the night – after 10 minutes.
The 21-year-old this season is showing the potential that prompted several clubs to chase his signature as his contract wound down at former club Wellington Phoenix.
And Victory fans would be delighted it was their club that won the race back in March 2011.
“He was great tonight,” Postecoglou said after the match.
“He’s a really good kid and he wants to learn, and we’re trying to make him a better player.
“I think sometimes with talented young kids, people throw them in there and just expect them to develop.
“But we’re actually working hard to make him a better player, so the strengths he’s got, we can make them more effective.”
Postecoglou pointed out Rojas – with four goals to his name this campaign – had only arrived back in the country from international duty with New Zealand on Friday, and also praised his guidance of Nabbout.
“I said to him before the game, he’s a senior member of our strike force now – he had to look after young Andrew,” Postecoglou said.
“He played Wednesday night (for New Zealand) as well – he played 70 minutes and flew back from China yesterday, so I thought it was a really gutsy effort from him and a further development from him as a young player.”
Nabbout, 19, made an unexpected second start for Victory after the late withdrawal of Archie Thompson through illness.
Having scored a double in last Saturday’s superb comeback victory against Sydney FC, the former Moreland Zebras winger found the scoresheet again and looked comfortable among his more experienced team-mates.
“We had to make a decision and we had to throw young Andrew in there, which is a little bit unfair on him. He’s not really ready to play at that intensity, but to his credit he got his goal, which was good,” he said.
“He was pretty bright for most of the first half, I thought, and did a job for us.”
