Striker Matt Simon hopes his second A-League goalscoring drought ends when the Central Coast Mariners battle to keep their finals hopes alive with an away victory against Perth on Sunday.
When Simon first signed with the Mariners he took the best part of a season to score his first goal for the club.
He is going through similar frustration this season.
After notching six goals during the first half of the season Simon has not hit the back of the net since November.
The Mariners have not won a match during Simon’s poor run and badly need the fringe Socceroo to fire against Perth.
“I think it’s just a matter of time before I score again,” Simon said.
“Every striker goes through times like I am now, it’s hard but you’ve got to keep working and hope for a bit of luck.”
“My job is to score goals, I think it’s a mental thing but I’m trying to stay positive.”
With only three games remaining the Mariners are in seventh place and desperately need to pick up three points in Western Australia.
A goal from Simon would give the club a huge chance to keep its title dream alive.
Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna is convinced Simon’s run of outs will soon end.
“He’s a very positive person and even though he hasn’t been scoring he’s still been working very hard,” McKinna said.
“He might even be trying too hard.”
Meanwhile, McKinna is expected to give midfielder Michael McGlinchey a first start in several weeks against Perth.
With defender Nigel Boogaard suspended McKinna will move either Brad Porter or Pedj Bojic from midfield to defence, leaving an opening for McGlinchey.
