Fit-again Caltex Socceroos forward Brandon Borrello has developed a relentless work ethic in Germany while recovering from a serious knee injury.
It’s why the Australian attacker believes he’s an ideal fit for Graham Arnold’s Caltex Socceroos side.
Borrello, 23, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during a training session for second division outfit Kaiserslautern in April 2018 before joining Bundesliga club Freiburg.
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“The work rate over there is just something else,” Borrello told www.socceroos.com.
“You have to be fit you have to be mentally strong, physically strong and I think the way Arnie likes to play and the way Australia is, they're good characteristics to have.
“We [Freiburg] don't have a team full of superstars and I've notice that it's a big collective or group effort. Everyone works from the strikers to the centre backs.”
In a show of faith to his new employers - who had made a verbal agreement to sign the former Brisbane Roar starlet prior to his injury - Borrello opted to remain in Germany rather than return to Australia to continue his rehabilitation.
He has since featured on the bench for the club’s 2-1 defeat to RB Leipzig on April 27 and recently completed six full matches for Freiburg’s Regionalliga Sudwest (fourth division) team, providing four assists.
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This impressive comeback caught the eye of head coach Arnold, who said he expected “great things” from the versatile attacker after naming Borrello – one of six uncapped players – in Australia’s squad to face Korea Republic this Friday.
“He can play anywhere across the front-line,” Arnold said.
“It'll be great to see him again and see how far he's developed since he's been at Freiburg. I expect great things from him."
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