Orlando Pirates coach Fadlu Davids says the return of Thembinkosi Lorch, Zakhele Lepasa and Vincent Pule will feel like new signings for the club.
Lorch and Lepasa have yet to feature for the club in the 2021/22 season due to long-term injuries while Pule last featured for the club back in October.
In their absence, Pirates have notably lacked the cutting edge in their attacking areas with only 14 goals scored in 13 league games as they languish in seventh with seven draws, four wins and two defeats.
But Davids feels the imminent return to fitness for their first-choice attackers will make a huge difference as if they were dipping into the market for reinforcements.
“I think the transfer window we’ll get some great signings in and internally if you take Pule being back, Lorch being back if you take Lepasa being back if you take Ofori being back,” David said after the Baroka game.
“Let’s be honest, Lepasa, Lorch, Pule – that’s our starting line-up front three. It’s clear we’re missing them and that’s the boost we’ll get in January, with all our main players coming back.
“Maela is back now, a starting line-up player. [He’s] just getting his fitness, passing his minimal standards, getting some minutes in the away leg in CAF.
“So more areas we’ll strengthen – our players will be full strength and back and especially our front movement, it’s clear if you have Lepasa, Lorch, the front three.
“Any team if you take that out, like Liverpool, Salah, Mane and Firmino, there’s not going to be that fluidity in terms of scoring goals and creating. So not really externally but internally our players coming back will give our squad a huge boost for the second round.”
The Buccaneers next clash will see them travel to face AmaZulu next Wednesday at the Jonsson Kings Park Stadium (17h30).
