Zinnbauer mulls over resting Mhango

Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has hinted he may rest striker Gabadinho Mhango for tonight’s Absa Premiership clash with Baroka FC at Ellis Park.

Mhango is the league’s top scorer with 14 goals, but has been shooting blanks since the return to play and has not netted in any of his previous five games.

"It's not easy, you know as a striker you need a certain trust from the coach and it's not so easy because on the bench we have a good striker or two," Zinnbauer said after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with BidVest Wits.

Mhango had missed a one-on-one chance in the game, and was replaced with five minutes to go by Tshegofatso Mabaso.

"He [Mhango] scored a lot of goals in the first games, and now [against Wits] he had one of the best chances but it was not so [that he scored].

"As a striker, when he doesn't think about anything, he scores, and now maybe he thinks a little bit too much that he wants [to score].

"He makes good work, he runs, he works for the team, he makes defensive and offensive work, and he tries, tries and tries, but it is like this sometimes as a striker.

"You have moments when you can do whatever you want but you don't score, so now it's a decision we have to make – yes, we give him now the trust, which he needs, but I don't know what's in the next games.

"We have not a long time and we have to see what's possible in the next game – maybe he needs a break or he needs the next game, I don't know, we'll [figure out] a plan for the next game."

Pirates could move to within a point of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns with a victory, though they will have played two games more.

Baroka need a win to move four points clear of the relegation zone, but five of the previous eight clashes between the sides have ended in draws.That includes a 2-2 stalemate in the return fixture this season in December.