Cape Town - Orlando Pirates Coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic says Bernard Morrison's return to fitness and goal-scoring will help increase the team's quality up front.
Morrison put up an outstanding man-of-the-match all-round performance and scored both goals in Pirates' 2-0 Nedbank Cup last 32 win over Ajax Cape Town at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
The Ghana-born attacker's well-taken goals on Saturday may not bring him an automatic starting berth in Sredojevic's line-up in the weeks and months ahead, but he'll certainly give the Serbia-born coach more options up front.
"Morrison stood aside for a while because of injury," Sredojevic said. "He prepared well for this match. It was not easy because we made six changes, and when you change more than three players you're losing complexion of continuity and consistency.
"So it's been a risk but it has paid us back. Now for his (Morrison) place in the team, there are two players competing and that competition will rise in quality. Rise in quality will bring us to a level to get better and better, and our supporters will be happy.
"He [Morrison] brings good spirit in the team," Sredojevic continued. "We are always in a good mood. He is the one spicing up the good mood in the team.
"His hard work has paid off. But at the same moment he has done a thing from what he is capable of. He must continue working hard." Also fighting for a place in the Buccaneers attack is Justin Shonga, Thamsanqa Gabuza, Thabiso Kutumela and youth team product Lyle Foster, with new arrival, Zambian Footballer of the Year Augustine Mulenga, also set to add more fire-power up front.
Second on the standings and five points off the summit, Bucs' next game is a league encounter against Chippa United in Port Elizabeth on Sunday February 25.
"We [need to keep] our feet on the ground. All this (the win over Ajax) is now forgotten," Sredojevic said.