After back-to-back home games against Melbourne City and Sydney FC the Mariners face a tough road trip against Wellington Phoenix.
It was always going to be a challenging three weeks against Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City and Sydney FC in the space of 12 days but it seems that the bodies have responded well with no further injuries to report.
Jacques Faty remains on the recovery trail after incurring a hamstring injury on New Year’s Eve and Jacob Poscoliero is close to returning after overcoming glandular fever.
It has been an experimental few weeks for Okon in the attacking stocks where his wide attackers have been competing hard for starting spots between the likes of Fabio Ferreira, Connor Pain, Kwabena Appiah and Trent Buhagiar.
Coming on off the bench last week, Pain proved to be a game changer – headlined by his bursting run down the left to win a penalty against Sydney FC on Sunday. With all attackers fighting fit, this makes for some welcomed selection headaches before travelling across the ditch.
This will be club’s third and final match against Wellington Phoenix of the season having hosted the ‘Nix in Canberra and once away in Hamilton.
For the home team, Roy Krishna will miss the match through suspension but their front third will be bolstered with the addition of Shane Smeltz.
Central Coast Mariners Squad: 1.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 5.Harry ASCROFT, 6.Blake POWELL, 7.Fabio FERREIRA, 8.Nick MONTGOMERY (c), 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Mickael TAVARES, 11.Connor PAIN, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 13.Kwabena APPIAH, 14.Adam BERRY, 16.Liam ROSE, 17.Josh BINGHAM, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 21.Michael NEILL, 22.Jake McGING
Ins: 10.Mickael TAVARES, 17.Josh BINGHAM (promoted)
Outs: NIL
Unavailable: 23.Jake ADELSON (ACL – indefinite), 19.Jacques FATY (hamstring – 1 week)
Match Details
Hyundai A-League 2016/17 – Round 15
Saturday 14 January 2017
Wellington Phoenix vs. Central Coast Mariners
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
kick-off: 5:35pm (AEDT)
Official hash-tags: #WELvCCM & #CCMFC
TV Broadcast: Fox Sports 505
Radio Broadcast: 96.3 Coast FM
