North Queensland Fury coach Ian Ferguson is confident the club’s marquee player Robbie Fowler will soon bounce back to the sort of form which saw him earn three consecutive goal of the week awards.
The 34-year old former English international made an early statement to the Hyundai A-League delivering four goals in the first six rounds.
For many, it re-affirmed claims he is possibly the biggest signing in the competition’s history.
Since then, the man Liverpool fans still call ‘God’ has seemed a little off colour.
But the club’s not concerned.
“Every player’s going to take a little slump in form,” Ferguson said.
“I’m not going to criticise him for that.”
“He works hard and that’s all I can ask for … he’s the type of player he can be quiet for 89 minutes of the game and then all of a sudden you’re a goal up, that’s Robbie Fowler,” he said.
The North Queensland mentor was quick to point out it’s not only Fowler who’s dropped off but the opposition who’ve picked up.
“They’ve watched what he can do and they’re upping their games,” he said.
“They make it difficult for him, they’re closing him down but he’ll get through it, I’ve no doubt about that. He’s a quality, experienced player.”
The Fury have won just one game so far in their inaugural Hyundai A-League campaign however consistent performances on the road and hard-fought draws sees them still only a couple of wins away from the ladder leaders.
But constant disruption to on-field combinations due to a string of injuries and suspensions is taking its toll.
This week Ferguson is being forced to inject two inexperienced players into the midfield in the absence of Ufuk Talay (suspension) and Shane Stefanutto (knee injury).
“It’s just like a normal week for me. I never seem to get the squad that we want out there; the experience I’m looking for,” he said.
“But as I keep saying to the boys it’s a big opportunity for them.”
Going for experience over youth, youngster Jack Hingert will be dropped from the back four in favour of the more seasoned Robbie Middleby for the Mariners clash at Bluetongue Stadium.
“I’ll play anywhere the gaffer wants me to,” Middleby pledged.
“They’re a tough team Central Coast … and they’re going to be very hard to beat.”
“But we’ve matched it with the best teams in the competition so we’re going to go there confident.”
