Football
AAP 6y

Melbourne Victory keeper Lawrence Thomas cleared of serious injury

Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas has escaped his horrible head clash unscathed and is expected to get up for Brisbane on Friday.

Thomas was stretchered off the field after colliding with Newcastle's Andrew Nabbout early in the second half of Saturday's 2-0 A-League loss at McDonald Jones Stadium.

The nasty clash left Nabbout in visible pain and Thomas in need of several minutes' medical attention before finally being replaced by Matt Acton.

Though cleared of serious damage by club doctors, the 25-year-old was taken straight to hospital as a precaution.

He was well enough on Sunday to travel back to Melbourne with the rest of the squad, and an MRI later that day showed no signs of structural damage.

In a boost for coach Kevin Muscat, Victory expect their first-choice gloveman should be fine to play at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Saturday's loss marked a missed opportunity for Victory, whose inability to finish chances saw them slip to fifth with eight rounds remaining.

They now sit 11 points behind the second-placed Jets and will have their work cut out to secure third or fourth and an accompanying home elimination final while contesting the Asian Champions League at the same time.

Muscat will at least have Jason Geria back from suspension at home to the Roar after being forced to play fringe midfielder Matias Sanchez at right-back against the Jets.

Leroy George's absence through soreness also meant 18-year-old Christian Theoharous made his starting debut on the wing, while central defender James Donachie started his first match in three months.

"I think the group performed remarkably well considering all those things," Muscat said.

"But ultimately we want to win games of football.

"To start thinking about what's happening in three, four or six weeks' time ... we'll just concentrate on preparing well for Brisbane."

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