Attacking midfielder Michael McGlinchey will be rushed back into Central Coast’s starting side as the Mariners battle to get their Hyundai A-League season back on track against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
After a bright start to the season the Mariners have faltered in recent weeks and need a victory against the Roar to stay in touch with the leading teams.
McGlinchey was on international duty with New Zealand as the Mariners missed a golden opportunity to move back into the top four with a 1-1 home draw against North Queensland on Sunday.
The Mariners missed McGlinchey’s creative play in the centre and his link play with the strikers.
Before going on international duty McGlinchey was one of the form midfielders in the Hyundai A-League.
“He was in great form for us before last week, he gives us something extra in attack which we needed against North Queensland,” Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna said.
While McGlinchey will start against the Roar, McKinna is unsure what role midfielder John Hutchinson will have in the match.
Hutchinson was in Malta’s squad for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier with Portugal and is due to meet up with his Mariners teammates in Brisbane on Friday night.
“Hutch is very important to our team but he’ll be backing up from a big game and also doing a lot of travel,” McKinna said.
“I’ll have a look at him on Saturday morning and see how he’s pulled up.”
“He might start but there’s also a chance he could come into the game in the second half. ”
Central defender Chris Doig will almost certainly start after recovering from a virus that forced him off at half-time against the Fury.
