Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp believes it’s difficult to separate Samir Nurkovic and Leonardo Castro, saying he would consider selecting the duo to lead the forward line together.

However, when Nurkovic was brought into the club that Castro became a casualty, but the former Mamelodi Sundowns man has done well to convince Middendorp that he deserves a spot in the Chiefs team.

Nurkovic started the season on fire, but it was Castro who stole the headlines two weeks ago against his former side in the Shell Helix Cup, bagging a hat-trick and an assist while the Serbian striker missed the game through injury.

Nurkovic made his comeback against Cape Town City in the Telkom Knockout last Saturday as he netted a late equaliser to force the game to penalties, in which Amakhosi came out on top.

Speaking post-game the German coach praised the duo.

‘I said it before, Samir is an exceptional player,’ Middendorp said.

‘He was out for three weeks, not really able to use his heading ability. He used it for the first time [against City]. We said, “OK, you’re not going to defend set pieces. Stay away, go to the corner. It’s early enough.”

‘On the other side, Castro scored three goals in a fantastic 45 minutes last Saturday against Sundowns and it’s difficult [to separate them] at the moment.’

Asked if he would consider playing the two strikers in the same team, the coach replied: ‘Why not? Why not?’

Chiefs are next in action when they take on the defending champions Sundowns at Loftus on Sunday.

Amakhosi are back in action on Sunday when they face rivals Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld.