Sydney FC striker Corey Gamiero says an honesty session with new coach Graham Arnold is behind his stunning pre-season form.
Gamiero has been the standout for the Sky Blues during their pre-season campaign, scoring seven goals in their last five matches.
The 21-year-old’s rich vein of form includes a brace against EPL club West Ham United as well as the opening goal of the club’s 3-1 Westfield FFA Cup triumph over Melbourne City.
And it’s all down to a heart-to-heart with Arnold who wanted more from the youngster.
“The answer that it came down to was I needed to work hard in pre-season and I needed to get myself in shape,” Gameiro told the Townsville Bulletin.
“That’s what I’ve been doing, I’ve been working really hard at training and all the time we’re staying back and doing extra shooting.
“That’s all the forwards, not just myself – Bernie [Ibini] is doing some extra stuff. We’re all really trying to maximise this opportunity to get as fit as we can and try and perform the best we can.”
Gameiro, who endured an injury-plagued 2013/14 season, has a battle just to make the Sydney starting XI, battling with the likes of Marc Janko, Shane Smeltz, Alex Brosque and Ibini for the attacking position.
“If you put me in that category with them, I’ve got a lot to learn from all of them from every perspective,” Gameiro said.
“Bernie is only a year older than me but there’s still a lot of things I learn from him every day. Brosquey, Smeltzy and Mark Janko, the thing they have in common apart from their football ability is that they’re all top guys.”
Sydney continue their pre-season schedule in the inaugural Townsville Football Cup, playing against Northern Fury, Brisbane Roar and Newcastle Jets.
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