The new Roar coach, who jets in towards the end of June to officially begin his Suncorp Stadium tenure, is impressed by the 33-year-old’s goals-per-game ratio, and believes he still has plenty of fire left in the furnace.
While O’Donovan fielded several other A-League offers after parting company with Newcastle Jets, the lure of working with the Liverpool legend - known simply as 'God' to the Anfield faithful - appears to have proven irresistible.
Despite missing the first eight games of last season through suspension, O’Donovan still finished as the Jets’ leading goalscorer with 11 goals from 18 appearances.
Two of those came in a 6-1 battering of Brisbane at the back end of the season.
The ex-Sunderland and Coventry City predator departed the Hunter - where terms of a new deal could not be agreed - having scored 20 goals in 35 appearances across two seasons.
He notched 11 in 26 games, and eight in 19, in his preceding two years with Central Coast Mariners.
O’Donovan also led the speed and fitness stats at the Jets - a handy accomplishment for player who turns 34 in August.
He told The World Game back in May of his desire to continue testing himself at the highest level possible.
“I want to be playing more games and scoring more goals,” he said.
“I’ve missed too many games through my own fault (suspensions) and don’t want that to happen anymore.
“It’s more about getting on pitch, getting in the box and scoring goals.”
A Roar official said the club were not prepared to comment on signing speculation when contacted by The World Game.
