The 26-year-old initially sustained a quad injury in the 40th minute of the 4-0 loss to Sydney FC in Round 2, before being was struck by glandular fever which kept him out for a further six weeks.

He managed 90 minutes in the Mariners youth team’s 3-0 loss to Sydney on the weekend and could make his return in the A-League against Perth Glory on Saturday.

“Exciting to be back, even when I played on the weekend, I felt like it was all new to me sort of thing,” Poscoliero said.

“I want to be playing with the boys and helping the boys out. Hopefully I can come back into the team if the coach picks me and get some results and hopefully finish this season strong.

“It’s what you’re paid to do, you’re paid to play and I want to play. It’s been tough, but the boys have put on some good performances. Unfortunately we haven’t been getting the results I think we deserve, maybe just a bit unfortunate sometimes.”

Poscoliero says coach Paul Okon had improved the team’s sturdiness in the backline after taking over Tony Walmsley before the beginning of this season.

However, the Mariners have conceded 34 goals this season, the most in the competition.

“Paolo is excellent, he had a very big career in Italy, which is a very defensive league. He brings that to us, I think you can see by our performances we’re a lot stronger defensively,” he said.

“He helps players individually because he has so much knowledge of the game and it’s just a pleasure to work under him.”