BRISBANE Roar marquee man Thomas Broich has urged in-form teammate Jamie Maclaren to take a “leap of faith” by moving to an overseas club.

Heading into the Roar’s away clash on Saturday night against his former club Perth Glory, Maclaren is in special form, having netted 10 goals in his past seven A-League games.

Overall, Maclaren has scored 49 goals in 87 A-League appearances, and nothing would please him more than to bring up his half-century against the club he left in search for regular first-team football.

Maclaren is likely to be on the move again at the end of this season, believing he deserves more than what the Roar have offered to re-sign him.

Whether the 23-year-old marksman should join another A-League club or venture outside Australia is a topic for debate.

Brisbane Roar striker Jamie Maclaren is in hot goalscoring form. Source: Getty Images

Many believe Maclaren’s best chance of going to next year’s World Cup in Russia ¬ if the Socceroos qualify ¬ is to remain in the A-League for another season to ensure he plays regular first-team football and keeps scoring goals.

However, former German under-21 international Broich suggested Maclaren should strike while the iron was hot and back himself to succeed at club level elsewhere in the world.

“It’s the old question as a young player ¬ do you want to try your luck overseas or do you want to appreciate what you have at a club?” said Broich, who played in the Bundesliga for Borussia Monchengladbach, FC Koln and Nurnberg.

“He’s scored close to 40 goals here (for the Roar), fans love him, he suits our system to perfection, so there are reasons for him to stay at the club.

“But then again he’s a young guy who’s chasing a dream, so if he was to leave, I wouldn’t blame him.

“It’s all about taking risks, If you stay in the A-League for your entire career you won’t become the player you can potentially become, so if he wants to take it very far, at some stage, he has to take a leap of faith.”

Brisbane Roar great Thomas Broich. Source: News Corp Australia

If Maclaren does score his 50th A-League goal on Saturday night it won’t be via a Broich assist, with the 36-year-old playmaker having been left in Brisbane as coach John Aloisi manages his squad ahead of the Roar’s heavy A-League and AFC Champions League schedule.

“I’ve played so many games still, so in terms of being rested at times, I think it’s even a smart decision,” Broich said.

“It’s not about playing every game as an individual. It’s about maximising success for the team.

“That is what John is all about and I don’t see any problems in that regard.”

Other players remaining in Brisbane to prepare for the Roar’s Champions League home clash against Japanese club Kashima Antlers on Wednesday night include defender Avraam Papadopoulos, midfielder Thomas Kristensen and goalkeeper Michael Theo.