Robbie Kruse will be out to find a new club unless he can translate his Socceroos form into more game-time in Germany.
The 28-year-old winger has been left on the bench so far this season in the league at his Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.
While it’s allowed him to come into Socceroos camp feeling fresh, Kruse knows it’s not a sustainable position.
“I’ll reassess my options in January given I’m in the last year of my contract,” he said.
“Hopefully I’m in a good situation to keep getting some minutes and we’ll see what happens in January.”
Kruse, who has spent the last six years in Germany since leaving A-League club Melbourne Victory, suggested flickering interest in his services during the off-season.
“It was difficult last window because I was with the national team four or five days before the window closed, and one of our wingers got injured, so I was always staying until January,” he said.
“I know my situation at the club. I want to go play.
“If I can, I should be able to leave.”
While gazing to the future, Kruse isn’t moaning or complaining about his lot.
He knows there are far worse places to be than his ambitious home at Leverkusen, which is playing in the European Champions League and hopes to challenge perennial title-winner Bayern Munich.
“The squad we have is one of the best in Germany … a lot of people have tipped us to push for the title,” he said.
“You want to play every game but I’m competing with some top talent in Europe. Three of our front line are playing in the German national team – in the squad at least.
“I’ve done really well to get in the squad, now I’m on the teamsheet, on the bench at least every week.
“It’s about pushing harder and getting some minutes.
“To be able to mix with them gives me a lot of confidence.”
Nemesis
Guest
If your only exposure to football is via the remote control and joystick, you'll never appreciate Robbie Kruse. Learn to play football and then you'll appreciate Robbie Kruse.
Albo
Guest
Oh please ! Kruse created nothing either, as usual ! He again wasted every cross he had the other night, with Cahill pulling his hair out begging for something he could get his head to ! Its been the same story with Kruse for a decade ...blistering speed, plenty of offsides, and continually ending up with no result ! 47 national caps for 4 goals as an attacking weapon is ordinary in anyone's terms. He is the perfect definition of a "gunna" , always promising to come good but rarely delivering a result. Seems the Germans have twigged to him far quicker than the Aussie geniuses !
Albo
Guest
Spot on Stevo ! The most over rated footballer still being feted by our National Coach ! He rarely converts any of the myriad of opportunities he has had in the national team. He wasted a number of chances with poor crosses against Japan the other night when only having to feed the best goal poacher & header in the conference for Australia to get out of gaol.
El cuchillo
Guest
Like
Nemesis
Guest
Australia vs Japan: For 56 minutes: Aaron Mooy, Tommy Rogic, Mass Luongo all on the park. Huffed & puffed. Created nothing. Robbie Kruse come on the park. Energy. Smart movement into space. Suddenly every time the ball move forward, Australia no longer looked toothless and clueless.
j binnie
Guest
Isn't it strange when a players ability is measured by what team or league he is playing in .Here Robbie's talent is being measured by his position in the "pecking order" based on a club that is suddenly performing well in their comp. This is not a new phenomenon,it always amuses me somewhat when Fox sports advertises their football commentator Mark Bosnich as "ex-Manchester United" where he played 23 games in his 2 seasons there when in fact Mark played most of his top football in the same league with the less fashionable AstonVilla where he played 179 games in 7 seasons. Let' hope Robbie can make a decision not based on 'romance" but letting him play consistently and injury free. Cheers jb
Evan Askew
Guest
He signed 3 years ago and made 20 appearances with 3 goals across all competitions in his first 6 months before rupturing his acl. The a year later he came back before rupturing his Achilles in the Asian cup final. If hadn't suffered these two injuries what do you gentleman think might have being his level?
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Agree with your sentiment. I find Kruse an unconvincing player who has never seemed capable of top flight football.
stu
Guest
He signed 3years ago, a lot can happen during that time. Injury being one another is being left on the bench.
Nemesis
Guest
He's currently employed by one of the strongest teams in Germany. Of all the players in the world Leverkusen could choose, they chose Robbie Kruse. That's a fair indication of where his ability rests.
stu
Guest
He should get game time at Celtic! Maybe that is where his level of ability rests.
Nemesis
Guest
"Three of our front line are playing in the German national team ..squad". This is the sort of pressure that confronts the best Aussie footballers. Athletes in sporting competitions only played in Australia will never experience this pressure. Never. Not even close.
96er's
Guest
His is probably 5th in line at Leverkusen at a starting spot, I don't care where he goes, he needs to get out of that club!