Victory winger Marco Rojas received a timely boost ahead of the big pre-Christmas derby against City on Saturday evening when he was named the A-League player of the month for November.

His attacking W-League counterpart Natasha Dowie was also recognised for her tireless efforts up front in a team that is struggling for form.

Rojas has been a bright spark for the former champions since returning to Melbourne following three seasons in Europe with Stuttgart.

He has scored five goals in his six A-League appearances so far in a campaign in which he has had to miss matches because of international call-ups for New Zealand.

His tally should be six in six, as his free kick against Newcastle was credited to Jets defender Iain Fyfe as an own goal as it took a touch of him going over the wall. But all credit was with Rojas for the flight of his delivery from a dead-ball situation in which Victory had, this season, not been as dangerous since the departure of Brazilian set-piece specialist Gui Finkler.

Rojas missed the last Victory game, the impressive 3-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers, with a hamstring injury but Victory coach Kevin Muscat is hopeful he will be available for selection against City after he trained earlier in the week.

Rojas has been an automatic first choice since his return to the club where he won the Johnny Warren Medal before departing for Europe, but given his recent injury Muscat might be tempted to not tinker too much with his starting line-up and leave the Kiwi to play an impact role off the bench.

"To be voted by the A-League players as player of the month is very humbling," said Rojas.

"I'm very happy to be back in the A-League with Victory. The support I have received from the club, my teammates and the fans has been brilliant and I'm really enjoying my football."

Dowie, who is related to former Premier League striker and manager Iain Dowie, has been a shining light in an otherwise disappointing campaign for Victory's W-League side, which is marooned at the foot of the table and without a win.

The England international has notched three goals, making her one of the leading strikers in the competition.

"This award means a lot to players. Playing in the W-League has been a fantastic experience and one I have thoroughly enjoyed," she said.

PFA president Alex Wilkinson, the Sydney FC and Socceroo centre-half, said Rojas and Dowie "highlight the quality of players we have playing in our elite domestic competitions and the ever improving standard on the pitch".