Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat could face some selection headaches in the club’s Round 24 clash against Brisbane Roar as star striker Besart Berisha could be on national duties with Kosovo in the nation’s World Cup qualifier against Iceland.
Australia and New Zealand are also partaking in qualifiers in Round 24 with Victory potentially also without Socceroo James Troisi against Iraq and UAE and Kiwi Marco Rojas for reverse fixtures against Fiji.
It was already seen as a possibility Berisha could line up for Kosovo after FIFA granted international clearance last year.
Kosovo are ranked 165th in the world and have been part of FIFA and UEFA since last year.
Berisha was born in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo which was formerly part of the Yugoslav republic. He and his family migrated to Germany as a youngster and proceeded to make 17 appearances for Albania from 2006-09.
“At this stage it looks like I’m going to go, (it will be) my first game to play for Kosovo,” Berisha said.
“It’s hopefully for me a very exciting time because I decided to go and I hope I have a great time.

“It’s (important) because they need my help and I’m born there. So I think it’s time to try my best and help them.
“It’s always special to play for your country, I was born there and I’m looking forward to that. The most important now is it’s a long way to that and I have three more games here and really want to focus on that.”
Victory play league strugglers Adelaide United at home on Saturday night with the Kosovar just three goals away from being the first player to score 100 goals in the competition.
Berisha broke former teammate Archie Thompson’s A-League record and became the all-time leading goal scorer at the beginning of the year.
He admits he wants to get the record out of the way.
“I expect this question always every press conference so I do like to I make sure I reach as fast as possible,” he said.

“So then it’s done but I’m focused on my games coming up now against Adelaide which is really important and make sure I do the job right and pick the points. If I can help the team with my goals on of course reach the record I will love to do that.
Berisha also said reaching 100 goals would be satisfying as a personal acheivment.
He added: “It will always be good to reach a number like that as a football player, it’s very special. As a leader of Melbourne Victory I like to win the games and make sure we pick the points. This is more important to me but as a striker I would love to reach this hundred goals.”
Related Articles
.jpeg&h=172&w=306&c=1&s=1)
Langerak to bolster Victory's ALM title bid in January

Socceroo-in-waiting seals Championship deal
