Ziggy Gordon has labelled the Central Coast Mariners dressing room ‘the best he’s ever been a part of’.
The 26-year-old arrived in Gosford from Hamilton Academical in June after he was compelled by the vision of Mariners boss Alen Stajcic.
And it appears the touch-tackling Scot has wasted no time in slotting into a Mariners team aiming to draw a line in the sand after back-to-back wooden spoons.
“This is the best dressing room I’ve ever been a part of,” Gordon told the Mariners website.
“One through 22, it’s been brilliant, everyone has brought into what the gaffer has to say, and everyone is enjoying it.”
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READ: The Stajcic pitch Ziggy Gordon couldn’t get out of his head
Feature image courtesy of Central Coast Mariners on Twitter
?️?️ @ziggyG16 believes that the current team environment is the best he has ever been involved in. #PreSeason #CCMFC #ALeague
Full ?️https://t.co/v27Iw0ZY51 pic.twitter.com/WSXWFz14qr— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) September 8, 2019
Gordon was on the score sheet as the Mariners kicked off their pre-season tour of Tasmania with a 3-1 win over a Football Tasmania state team on Sunday afternoon.
But according to the defender – who wore the armband on the day – the kind of rampaging run that saw him get onto a Mario Shabow crosss at the back post is not one Mariners fans should be expecting during the Hyundai A-League campaign.
“I won’t be marauding anywhere past halfway this season,” Gordon confirmed.
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Big step forward for Ben Warland
Sydney FC defender Ben Warland has marked a big milestone on his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament tear.
The 23-year-old suffered an ACL tear in his left knee in a 2-0 Hyundai A-League loss to Melbourne City in March.
But Warland returned to the pitch on Saturday, warming up with his teammates for the first time in close to six months.
“It’s not much,” Warland told the club website from Sydney’s pre-season camp in Cairns.
“But it’s good to be back with the team. It was only a couple of laps and run-throughs, but it felt good.
“I’m still going through rigorous rehab with Ibby [Sydney FC Head Physiotherapist Ibrahim Kerem] and getting smashed every session I’m with him.
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Hear from Sky Blue star @BenWarland1 as he chats about his recovery from an ACL injury while in camp with the squad in Cairns ? @councilcairns #ExploreTNQ#SydneyIsSkyBlue #WeAreChampions pic.twitter.com/qnooDJCMw2
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) September 8, 2019
“Hopefully the next step is passing drills and ball work, so I’ll be more involved with the team.
“It’s a slow process, I don’t really look too far ahead. It is what it is.”
This is the second injury-disrupted pre-season for the centre half from Adelaide.
Last season, Warland missed the start of Sydney’s 2018/19 campaign after breaking a bone in his foot.
But he seized his chance to impress when Steve Corica handed him the opportunity to do so, starting nine matches in a row before his injury.
Warland says having Trent Buhagiar and Chris Zuvela by his side – who both succumbed to freak, season-ending knee injuries last season, has been helping him through his rehabilitation journey.
“They’re about three or four months ahead of me at the moment,” he said.
“It spurs me on a bit.”
EVERY SIGNING: All the Hyundai A-League Ins and Outs
EVERY CLUB’S SHIRT: New kits for all 11 Hyundai A-League clubs in 2019/20
Thompson off the mark
Archie Thompson has scored his first goal in Spanish football.
Thompson, 40, signed on with Spanish fifth tier club Racing Murcia last month on a guest stint contract.
The former Melbourne Victory legend had previously been playing with Murray United in the NPL Victoria 2 division.
