Fernando Da Cruz receives a major morale boost with the return of some injured players!

The Frenchman actually got what he had hoped for.

Africa Today at 09:31

Add Foot Africa on Google

Fernando Da Cruz receives a major morale boost with the return of some injured players!

Kaizer Chiefs may soon find the experience and firepower Da Cruz has been pleading for in their attacking trio, after the side played out a goalless draw with Golden Arrows in their final fixture before the FIFA international break.

The stalemate in Mbombela left Da Cruz especially uneasy about how immature his young forwards appeared.

read more: Tapelo Xoki opens up on lengthy injury layoff

Fernando de Cruz expresses his happiness

"We have a lack of maturity in our front-line, its young players but players with a lot qualities but they have a lack of maturity, but we on the good way," the Frenchman told the media.

"We need to continue on this way and we going to win game and score goals, one hundred percent because people in front of the TV today even though they watched 0-0, but have watched a good game today," Da Cruz added.

With Mayo, Da Silva and Ighodaro back in the fold, Kaizer Chiefs suddenly have three seasoned campaigners capable of bringing something entirely different to their front line.

Between them, the trio boast a combined total of over 400 senior appearances and 144 career goals — a wealth of know-how that hands Da Cruz far more experience to call upon in the final third.

Mayo, 28, arrives with 141 career outings and 60 goals to his name. Comfortable either as a centre-forward or out wide, the South African international also picked up useful know-how during his time with CR Belouizdad in Algeria.

During an earlier stint with Amakhosi, Mayo turned out 10 times and found the net twice, while his attacking statistics underline a knack for consistently drifting into dangerous areas.

Da Silva, at 30, is the elder statesman of the group. The Guinea-Bissau international has plied his trade across Portugal and Indonesia, racking up 182 career appearances and 61 goals along the way.

He struck eight times over the previous campaign and was on target again in his first outing of the current cycle. For a Kaizer Chiefs attack that has leaned heavily on younger players, his physical presence and experience could prove especially valuable.