Leckie tips Kruse to shine with Stuttgart

Australia winger Mathew Leckie believes Socceroos team-mate Robbie Kruse's loan move to Stuttgart will help him return to the top of his game.

Mathew Leckie is attracting plaudits for his form in the Budesliga, and hopes to keep it going for the Socceroos Source: AAP

Kruse’s season-long switch from Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga struggler, where he joins Socceroos goalkeeper Mitch langerak, was sanctioned on Tuesday.

Leckie is convinced the move could be the catalyst for Kruse to get the game time he needs to cast aside his terrible run of injuries during past 18 months.

“Robbie’s had two bad injuries with his knee and then Achilles, and going to Stuttgart is a good move for him,” Leckie said.

“He has done really well to come back from those setbacks because it's not easy at this level and what he needs most now is game time."

“He’s been coming on for Leverkusen but it’s a very strong team and they’ve picked up a few good signings, so I think it was a smart move for him."

"Hopefully he can play regularly and get back to full fitness so he can be strong for the national team.’’

Kruse, who was a late withdrawal from the squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh in Perth on Thursday and Tajikistan on 8 September, is likely to join Stuttgart on a permanent basis if his loan goes well.

While Kruse goes in search of more minutes at his new club, after a farewell cameo off the bench in Bayer Leverkusen's recent loss to Bayern Munich, Leckie is hunting for more goals for his country, for whom he has netted just once in 25 appearances.

If he shows the sort of intent which brought him a long distance stunner for Bundlesliga newcomer Ingolstadt at the weekend, then Bangladesh could be in for a torrid time.

"I’m keen, it’s been a while now (since scoring) and it’s something I’ve been missing with the national team," Leckie said.

"I try not to let it worry me too much because I still feel that I’ve been a solid player for the national team."

"Goals are the only thing missing and I’m confident if I keep working hard they’ll come. I’m very happy with scoring my first Bundesliga goal and it was a nice one to score."

“We’re trying to hold ourselves in the league and we won’t get as many chances as last season."

"I don’t hit it that perfectly every time with my left foot, but it worked out just right and it flew in the top corner."