Sept 30 (Reuters) - Despite enduring ⁠a torrid start to the season, Real Madrid's Vinicius ⁠Jr can still make a difference even when ‌he is off his game and will return to his best form in time, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday.

Forward Vinicius has scored just ​one goal in eight appearances across all ⁠competitions this season for ⁠Spanish club Real Madrid, who sit fourth in the LaLiga standings ⁠with ‌15 points.

However, the 26-year-old showed flashes of his quality in Brazil's 4-2 friendly victory over Australia in ⁠Brisbane on Tuesday, contributing to the third goal ​and converting a ‌penalty for the fourth.

"I know Vini very well. To ⁠me, he ​is a key player for the national team - a key player for Brazil - and he was a key player in my own ⁠footballing journey," said Ancelotti, who also ​coached Vinicius when he was in charge of Real Madrid.

"He is a key player for the future. Is he at his best ⁠right now? No, he isn't, but it is the start of the season. And Vini, always, even when he isn't at his best, he can still make the difference, just ​as he did today.

"The goal that really ⁠opened up the game was thanks to him. So, I'm ​going to be very patient, because ‌he deserves that patience."

Brazil next travel ​to Kolkata for a friendly with India on Saturday.

(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)