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Anna Harrington

Popovic predicts best yet to come from Victory recruits

Daniel Arzani is flying for Melbourne Victory in their promising start to the A-League Men season. (Will Murray/AAP PHOTOS)

Coach Tony Popovic is confident the best is yet to come from Melbourne Victory and their bevy of recruits after a promising start to the A-League Men season.

But he believes Victory should be disappointed to have drawn 1-1 with Wellington at AAMI Park on Friday amid a lack of clinical edge.

Revamped Victory have two wins and two draws ahead of the international break, with striker Bruno Fornaroli starring and recruits Zinedine Machach, Ryan Teague and Daniel Arzani impressing.

"We're progressing well," Popovic said. 

"We're improving our game, we're dominating much better with the ball, we're controlling games better, limiting the opponent to very little. 

"I'd much rather the points as well when you do that, but obviously that's something we've got to keep working on and get better at.

"We look strong as a team. Now we have a chance to regroup, try and get better in this two-week period before we go again."

Victory had 18 shots, with seven on target, while Wellington failed to register a single effort.

"We should be disappointed'," Popovic said.

"We're happy with the progress, the football we're playing. But we're not happy that we didn't win. And there should be a feeling of that as well."

Arzani, 24, was lively against Wellington but didn't score and came off cramping with half an hour to go, but Popovic backed the former teen sensation to hit his straps.

"He hasn't had a lot of regular football for a long time and he's backing up and performing," Popovic said.

"We're seeing that his first-half performances are getting better and better. We need a bit more end product from him, whether it's more assists, more goals. 

"And the second half he'll continue to improve. That's part of the journey for him. 

"He hasn't come off injured, which is key and a couple of weeks from now I expect an even better Daniel."

Midfielder Teague has been a standout and scored his first ALM goal against Wellington.

"Very good. He's a young player who's hardly played any regular football for the last couple of years," Popovic said.

"So even tonight, I could sense in the second half he looked a little bit tired. But that's all expected. 

"He's a really good young prospect and he goes away now with the under 23s, so hopefully he comes back full of confidence from the camp. 

"We'll keep working hard on him and I can see him developing a lot further in the second half of the year."

Victory return to action away to Macarthur FC on November 24.

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