Despite being absent from the Melbourne Victory’s line-up over their last three encounters, Swedish international Ola Toivonen could return this weekend for the Melbourne Derby against Melbourne City as he looks to pick back up his rich vein of form.
Victory currently sit in second spot nine points off leaders Perth Glory and with the all important Melbourne Derby match up on the horizon, manager Kevin Muscat will be hoping his big Swede is ready for action.
Though coming off a successful 2018 World Cup campaign with Sweden, Toivonen also missed his sides first three games of the season due to injury, but soon forced his way into Muscat’s 11 by operating as one of two forwards in the reigning champions’ 4-4-2 diamond set up.
The 32-year-old has managed ten goals in 13 games for the Big V, which included a scintillating free kick against historic rivals Sydney FC, which showed why he is proving to be one of the signings of the season.
Managing ten league strikes or more goals in a single campaign is something the Swede has not been able to produce since 2011-12 while the attacker was with Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven.
It shows just how much the former Toulouse player has adjusted to his new surroundings as the Victory look to claim back-to-back A-League championships.
The Swedish international has not only seen his performances flourish in a Victory uniform, but they have also reeked reward for his strike partner Kosta Barbarouses.
Like his strike compatriot, Barbarouses has ten goals next to his name and the pair have formed one of the deadliest forward combinations in the competition.
The New Zealand international is clearly thriving playing alongside his Swedish teammate and that is apparent given the 28-year-old had not reached double digits since 2010-11 when he was a champion with the Brisbane Roar.
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