Milutin Sredojevic urges Thamsanqa Gabuza to score more for Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates striker Thamsanqa Gabuza will only return to the team's starting line-up if he improves in front of goal.

This is according to Bucs head coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic, who also stressed the importance of having a player like Gabuza in his squad.

"Thamsanqa Gabuza is working very hard to come back. From the red card, he was missing the two matches. He's in contention," Sredojevic said on Vodacom Soccer.

"It is purely on him to when he'll satisfy the criteria and standard that we ask from the players in order to come back. We believe in him. We have already mentioned [that] we cannot go back to what has happened," he continued. 

The lanky forward has not featured for Pirates since was red-carded during the team's 2-1 win over Black Leopards in Polokwane after storming off the field two months ago.

The former Lamontville Golden Arrows marksman, who later apologized for leaving the pitch and provoking the fans, has since served his two-match suspension, and he is now available for selection.

The Serbian tactician went on to disclose that Gabuza is working closely with the club's finishing coach Stephane Adam, who is a retired French striker. 

"He's one of the regular members of the squad. He's an extremely positive personality out of the field of play and in the dressing room. And as such, he's working very hard with the finishing coach [Stephane Adam] regarding that," he explained.

"The only thing is that he's very good for the atmosphere. This is a written document; he works very hard. This is a signed document. Now stamp a bit better with the conversion ratio and he'll come back and give us his best possible self," he concluded.

Pirates' next competitive game will be against Chippa United in the 2018 Telkom Knockout Cup Last 16 match at the Orlando Stadium next weekend.