“All I can do is put myself in a coach's position," he admitted.

"If I was a coach, and I had a finals match on the Friday I'd be really keen to be with our squad so I certainly understand and sympathise with him.”

However, with Danny Allsopp in scoring form over the last few weeks Merrick refused to say whether he thought Pim Verbeek should call up the big Melburnian.

He added: “Pim's got a tough job and he picks the side... If Danny earns his spot, he earns his spot. Danny's doing all the right things.”