MELBOURNE Victory is on the verge of signing of towering central defender Dino Djulbic.

Coach Kevin Muscat revealed after his side’s 2-1 win over Newcastle last night that the experienced former Perth stopper had arrived in Melbourne with a view to signing as an injury replacement for James Donachie.

The 34-year-old, who has most recently played in Malaysia with Felda United, is then likely to stay on specifically for Victory’s Asian Champions League campaign, but would not play in the A-League once Donachie returns from his long-term quad injury.

MATCH: Victory revival rolls on

Djulbic’s arrival comes just in time, as Victory star Rhys Williams last night received his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning he is suspended for next Saturday’s clash with Central Coast in Geelong.

Also unavailable for that clash is Thomas Deng, who will miss most of January while away on international duty with the under 23 national side.

It means Djulbic, should his signing go through with no issues in the coming days, will start against the Mariners.

media_camera Dino Djulbic (left) in acton for Perth Glory against Melbourne Victory’s Besart Berisha in March.

Defensive utility Leigh Broxham is also likely to return from injury.

Asked directly if he was interested in signing Djulbic, Muscat smirked and said, “yeah”.

Pressed further, Muscat said: “I’ve been speaking to him for quite a few weeks now.

“He’s come in, he’ll start training with us and we’ll look to try and conclude a deal when the window opens to get him in as an injury replacement.”

Muscat also became the second coach to receive a yellow card as part of the A-League’s new trial of referees being able to give cards to managers.

“I was a little bit disappointed to be honest,” Muscat said.

“From the middle of the park the perception was one thing, but what was said was the reality and I’m a little bit disappointed.”

The win against the second-placed Jets was Victory’s third in a row and fifth in seven games.

Muscat stopped short of declaring it his side’s best performance of the season, but said he was happy with its recent improvements.

“There’s been a lot of responsibility taken,” he said.

“And adding to the mix we’ve got some continuity, (international) players are back and settled and we really analysed and had a look at areas we could get better.

“People have taken responsibility. The leaders in that team, once again tonight, led from the front.”

Merrick deserves credit for helping Jets buck trend

ERNIE Merrick did not exactly have a plethora of coaching options at the end of last season after leaving Wellington Phoenix, nor was he Newcastle Jets’ first option.

Last night he returned to his old stomping ground with his team above Melbourne Victory on the ladder for the first time since leaving and – at age 64 – the wily old fox indicated he may yet have a trick or two up his sleeve.

The Jets may have lost 2-1 to Victory, but considering they lost two players (Ben Kantarovski and John Koutroumbis) to injury and are still minus gun trio, top scorer Roy O’Donovan, Daniel Georgievski and Venezuelan ace Ronald Vargas, they gave a good account of themselves.

Unless something goes pear-shaped the Jets, who have not played in an A-League grand final since their 2007-08 win, will contend for the A-League title this season and they retain a buffer in second spot.

The Jets have bucked the trend of stagnation and regression for most A-League clubs this season, and for that Merrick deserves credit.

They were coming off a low base after a last-place finish having claimed a paltry 22 points from 27 games – a ratio that would get one relegated in most countries.

Underpinned by a freestyle attacking philosophy that suits dynamic attackers Andrew Nabbout, Dimi Petratos and Joey Champness, the Jets have shot to the pointy end of the table and pose an attacking threat for anyone – even Sydney FC and Victory.

Injuries have meant that mid and lower-rung players have stepped up and taken on greater responsibility, which augurs well for squad depth come finals time – especially with Olyroo Riley McGree and Argentine winger Patricio Rodriguez joining next week.

Petratos is knocking on the door of the Socceroos having assumed the role of talisman in the absence of Vargas, though he struggled to shake Victory’s tight marking last night.

Jason Hoffman has flourished by merely winning a place in the first XI and enjoying playing minus the shackles while returning to his junior position of attacker.

Ghosting in from the right, he exploited a wide between Victory stoppers Rhys Williams and Thomas Deng and kept Carl Valeri at bay while pouncing on Steve Ugarkovic’s superb run and ball to equalise just before the break.

It took Victory’s best performance of the season to knock off the Jets. An enticing maiden finals encounter between Kevin Muscat and Merrick looms, possibly quite deep in April.

- David Davutovic