Danny Vukovic was always confident he would rediscover his best form with the Central Coast Mariners.
By his own admission the shot-stopper had his first form slump in five years with the club at the back end of last season.
As the Mariners suffered an early exit from the finals in the Hyundai A-League and a winless Asian Champion League campaign, Vukovic’s form dropped off. He was the first to admit his form was not up his usual high standard.
Now, with his confidence back, the goalkeeper has returned to his best.
He will be out to continue the most consistent form of his career when the Mariners tackle North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday night.
“I had a form slump last season, I’m not hiding from that,” he said.
“That happens to all players but I’m over that now. I’m the same player I was but I’m confident, that’s the big difference.”
Vukovic has pulled off several wonder saves this season, including two spectacular efforts to deny Melbourne two weeks ago.
It is that form that has some Hyundai A-League observers naming Vukovic as a bolter for Pim Verbeek’s World Cup squad.
He is not letting that speculation get to him, focusing on nothing but maintaining his high standards for Central Coast.
“It would be a dream,” Vukovic said of going to the World Cup.
“I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t love to go but all I can do is keep playing well for the Mariners.”
Vukovic has been in Qantas Socceroos contention before and has sat on the bench in two Asian Cup qualifiers. But he is still to make his international debut.
Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna said his goalkeeper would not be out of place in the national squad.
“I think he’s in the frame,” he said.
“The way he’s playing at the moment he’s putting pressure on Pim to consider him as one of the goalkeepers.”
