FAHID Ben Khalfallah insists the age of Brisbane Roar’s squad has nothing to do with the club’s injury crisis.

French star Eric Bautheac (hamstring) is the latest player on the Roar’s casualty list, joining the likes of Jade North (groin), Michael Theo (finger), Luke DeVere (knee), Brett Holman (calf), Thomas Kristensen (hamstring) and Shannon Brady (foot).

Attacking weapon Ben Khalfallah (quad) has also missed Brisbane’s past two matches but is set to return on Sunday night when the Roar host his former club, Melbourne Victory.

Bautheac (30), North (35), Theo (36), Holman (33), Kristensen (34) and Ben Khalfallah (35) are also among the Roar’s brigade of 30-somethings that also includes suspended defender Avraam Papadopoulos (33), marquee striker Massimo Maccarone (38), goalkeeper Jamie Young (32) and skipper Matt McKay (34).

media_camera Brisbane Roar attacker Fahid Ben Khalfallah.

The older look of Brisbane’s squad has led to some questions over Roar coach John Aloisi’s recruiting drive and its risks in terms of injuries.

But Ben Khalfallah said the lengthy injury list being linked to players’ ages was “bullshit”.

“Massimo is not injured and he’s 38, so it’s not about that,” said Ben Khalfallah, who instead pointed to other factors, including the Roar’s current lack of facilities.

“If you want to compare clubs, if you go to the Victory and see the facilities they have for recovery. It’s amazing, it helps players.

“We don’t have the same facilities and recovery stuff. All the material we need, we don’t have that, not yet.

“I can give you a lot reasons but that’s not the culture, that’s not what we are. Every club is a family, and when you’re part of a family, you’re not there to criticise. We just deal with that.”

Ben Khalfallah said Aloisi was an “amazing” coach who “deserves better”.

“We believe in what he (Aloisi) does because I know it’s the right thing,” he said.

“I feel sorry for him sometimes because he doesn’t get what he should get.

“He doesn’t complain, but as a coach when you don’t have every game six or seven players, it’s not easy.

“If you take out of Sydney the best six or seven players in every game, they’re not the same team.

“We want to fight for the team, for the club … but we want to fight for him (Aloisi) as well.

“I’ve been in football for ages and … John is one the best coaches I’ve ever had.”

Ben Khalfallah said Sunday’s clash against the club he won a championship with in 2015 would not hold any extra significance for him.

“Everyone knows I spent three years there and had an amazing time, but today I play for Brisbane Roar,” he said.

“When you’re young it’s a bit different but when you get more experienced it’s just a game, and it’s at home so we need to get the three points.”