NIK Mrdja is tantalisingly close to hitting the training track as Lawrie McKinna challenges his remaining strikers to step up to the plate.
As he digests the prospect of being without goalkeeper Danny Vukovic until the end of November, the Central Coast Mariners boss is also pondering his options at the other end of the pitch.
John Aloisi’s departure for Sydney FC has left a big hole and McKinna has challenged the hit men on the club’s books to show they are more than capable of filling the Socceroo forward’s boots.
Mrdja made a cracking start to the season for the Mariners and his early form was enough to earn a call up into the Australia squad for September’s 1-0 friendly defeat by Argentina.
It all went wrong swiftly after that though with the forward succumbing to yet another knee problem that ended his season prematurely yet again.
This after Mrdja missed the entire 2005/6 campaign and managed just six games the following year.
With numerous setbacks and false starts, the player’s Mariners future is in limbo but McKinna has his fingers crossed that light is finally at the end of the tunnel.
He told au.fourfourtwo.com: “John Aloisi has moved on and so yes, it is an opportunity for some of the other boys to really push on.
“I’m told that Nik Mrdja is only a week or so away from starting running again so hopefully he can get back to fitness.
"We’re not in a position to gamble (with regard to contracts) but we’ll give him every opportunity to show he can get back. Clearly a fit Nik Mrdja is an asset.
“Young Matty Simon now has to step up to the plate and build on his first season. Hopefully getting an opportunity for the Under 23 side (Simon was involved in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Mexico in San Francisco) will give him another boost.”
McKinna is expected to meet with his squad next week to discuss numerous contract situations with Tom Pondeljak and Aloisi having already departed.
McKinna is confident that he can agree terms with those that wish to stay and as for fresh faces, expect some but not simply to make up the numbers.
He said: “It might be we’re looking at around four new players for next season but new players have to be better than the ones we’ve already got.”
John Aloisi’s departure for Sydney FC has left a big hole and McKinna has challenged the hit men on the club’s books to show they are more than capable of filling the Socceroo forward’s boots.
Mrdja made a cracking start to the season for the Mariners and his early form was enough to earn a call up into the Australia squad for September’s 1-0 friendly defeat by Argentina.
It all went wrong swiftly after that though with the forward succumbing to yet another knee problem that ended his season prematurely yet again.
This after Mrdja missed the entire 2005/6 campaign and managed just six games the following year.
With numerous setbacks and false starts, the player’s Mariners future is in limbo but McKinna has his fingers crossed that light is finally at the end of the tunnel.
He told au.fourfourtwo.com: “John Aloisi has moved on and so yes, it is an opportunity for some of the other boys to really push on.
“I’m told that Nik Mrdja is only a week or so away from starting running again so hopefully he can get back to fitness.
"We’re not in a position to gamble (with regard to contracts) but we’ll give him every opportunity to show he can get back. Clearly a fit Nik Mrdja is an asset.
“Young Matty Simon now has to step up to the plate and build on his first season. Hopefully getting an opportunity for the Under 23 side (Simon was involved in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Mexico in San Francisco) will give him another boost.”
McKinna is expected to meet with his squad next week to discuss numerous contract situations with Tom Pondeljak and Aloisi having already departed.
McKinna is confident that he can agree terms with those that wish to stay and as for fresh faces, expect some but not simply to make up the numbers.
He said: “It might be we’re looking at around four new players for next season but new players have to be better than the ones we’ve already got.”
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