Recovery from a hip injury has delayed the 31-year-old’s start to the A-League season and he’s itching to get out on the park and finally bring a smile to the faces of the Glory faithful.

Harnwell spent much of the off season in Europe playing for Vaduz and helped them to a championship.

He returned home to Perth full of confidence and is determined to help make Glory a force in the A-League under Dave Mitchell. Finishing so low in the first three campaigns doesn’t sit well with the Perth-born player.

He told au.fourfourtwo.com: “It’s hurt me personally and hurt a lot of the boys who have been at the club for some time.

"We know this is a vitally important season for Perth Glory, not only for the fans but for the whole league. I think the league does need a strong Perth side. We’ll be fighting every inch of the way to make that happen.

“We’ve targeted the top four as a realistic expectation for the group.”

Harnwell admits starting a season with a coach who makes him feel a vital part of the set up is a tremendous boost.

He said: “It’s great to have the full backing of the coach.

"It’s not something I’ve had in the last season or two but Dave (Mitchell) made it pretty clear when he wanted to re-sign me that I was a valued member of the club and that I’d be playing a very important role this season.

“It takes a bit of pressure off your shoulders in that you don’t feel like you’re having to prove anyone wrong but then it adds pressure in that you have to prove he made the right decision.

“I scored eight goals from a pretty limited number of appearances last season so if I can get into double figures then that would be a great achievement and probably silence a few people who still have those doubts about me, about whether I’m just a lumbering defender or whether I can actually play the game.”

Harnwell also feels a lack of pundits raving about their chances is not cause for alarm.

“The fact that we’re sort of tucked away (isolated on the west coast) in some people’s eyes doesn’t bother us at all," he said.

"It used to help us in the old days and I think it will help us again now.”

While he loved his European adventure, Harnwell admits it’s great to be back in warmer climes. He said: “I went from 35 degrees in Perth to minus two when I landed in Zurich but it was a very good experience.

“I maybe paid for it a little bit when I got back and injured myself but I’m glad I went over, won a championship and came back with some great memories.”

Now he is just anxious to get back into action and is hopeful it could be this weekend.

“I had an operation on my hip just to clear a few things out, a bit of old age, but I’d hope to be lining up again Newcastle,” he said.