Robbie Koren’s return to peak fitness could be the deciding factor in Melbourne City’s bid to reach the A-League finals.
The Slovenian midfielder has exerted an increasing influence on John van ‘t Schip’s side since making his belated A-League debut just before Christmas.
The 34-year-old’s prolonged absence with a serious calf complaint exacerbated a maddening run of injury concerns for van ‘t Schip that threatened to derail City’s campaign.
But with five weeks of the regular season remaining, the coach is confident his international marquee player can provide the spark he hoped for when he signed him from English side Hull City back in August.
“If I look at Robbie over the last few games I’m very happy with what he’s bringing,” van ‘t Schip said.
“He’s giving the example on the pitch – he’s working very hard, creating on the ball and giving us that extra second of time so we can make a solution.
“Having that kind of an injury interrupts your pre-season … (but) I get the idea now, and I think he feels it as well, that he’s now really strong physically.”
Van ‘t Schip said that he felt Koren played his best game for the club in last week’s 1-0 away win against title contenders Sydney FC that helped consolidate City’s hold on sixth spot.
Koren has extensive experience in Europe at club level and with the Slovenian national team, but van ‘t Schip said the creative midfielder is starting to reap the benefits of a greater understanding of A-League conditions.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are or how experienced – there’s always a time of adaptation,” he said.
“One might do it quicker than another, but I think looking at Robbie with his injury, he’s slowly coming back into the team and now he’s really at the point of taking the team by his hand.
“He understands the league (now).”
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