Franjic faith as Roar A-League aces return

Ivan Franjic is confident Brisbane Roar's fortunes will turn as their A-League casualty ward shrinks by the day.

Brisbane Roar defender Ivan Franjic

Ivan Franjic is in his second spell as a Brisbane Roar player. (AAP)

The sheer volume of returning players at Brisbane Roar has Ivan Franjic confident their horrid luck in the A-League will turn soon.

The Roar have lost five of their past six matches but despite sitting second bottom on the ladder, they still remain a chance of playing finals football if they find form.

Coach John Aloisi is under increasing pressure but has been given repeated assurances by the club's hierarchy that his job is not on the line, having signed a three-year contract extension only last year.

Franjic, who made his return from a quad strain in Friday's 1-0 defeat to Newcastle, said Aloisi did not deserve all the blame given how many players have been sidelined with injury over the course of the season.

"John's one of my favourite coaches," Franjic told reporters on Monday.

"It's been difficult obviously (to have) four or five starters out every week.

"(But) just the quality of players coming back now makes a big difference.

"More players are coming back on board this week, next week.

"Once all these players keep getting game time we'll get stronger and stronger."

Franjic's former Socceroos teammate Brett Holman is a strong chance of overcoming a recurring calf problem to line up in Thursday night's crunch home clash with Perth Glory.

Nick D'Agostino (ankle) and Mitch Oxborrow (soreness) also missed the Jets game but were listed as one-week absentees.

However, French winger Eric Bautheac (illness) and defenders Luke DeVere and Jade North were not present at training on Monday, while forward Corey Gameiro was, once again, restricted to light duties.

Aloisi needs as many players back on deck as possible with an AFC Champions League qualifier at home next Tuesday, followed by an away trip to face the Central Coast Mariners the following Saturday.

Franjic insisted the only ingredient missing for Brisbane was a bit more "cutting edge" up front.

"You look at it and we've had the chances to score. It's not that we're not creating -- the chances are there," Franjic said.

"It's just the finishing which obviously will come.

"Everything goes through patches during the season and we're going through ours, but the belief is there."


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world