Veteran goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has set his sights on a farewell game with the Central Coast Mariners against Wellington Phoenix in Round 8.
It had been feared that the 36-year-old’s short stint with the Mariners had come to a premature end when a hamstring injury forced him from the field after only seven minutes in last Friday’s 4-1 defeat of Perth Glory.
But subsequent scans have cleared the former Qantas Socceroo of a tear in his left hamstring, with the strain that was detected giving Bosnich confidence he can make it back for one last game at Bluetongue Stadium.
“As I said after the match, you have to take the good with the bad, but I was confident that this injury would only be a minor setback and I’m thankful that this has proved to be the case,” Bosnich said.
“I’ll return to training as soon as possible and with the help of the club and my team-mates I’m determined to do all that I can to push my case for a starting berth against the Wellington Phoenix.”
With Bosnich sidelined for this weekend’s clash with Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium, Mariners boss Lawrie McKinna is likely to turn to either Qantas Young Socceroo Andrew Redmayne, who replaced Bosnich at the weekend, or Matthew Nash.
Meanwhile in other Mariners news, the club has announced the promotion of development manager Alex Tobin to the role of assistant coach to McKinna following predecessor Ian Ferguson’s appointment as head coach of new club North Queensland FC.
“It’s great to have been given an opportunity to further my coaching experience with the Mariners, where I’ve enjoyed a little over three terrific years to date,” said Tobin.
“This new role won’t differ too greatly from the one that I have fulfilled previously, but it is no less exciting to have been formally recognised in this fashion and I look forward to what is already shaping to be a successful campaign alongside Lawrie and an exceptional playing group that is as determined as I have seen them to win some silverware.”
