Central Coast Head Coach Graham Arnold said he will start new Scottish Premier League recruit, John Sutton, when the Mariners host Wellington Phoenix at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday.
The wily Mariners boss believes Sutton has already settled into his new surrounds well, and is ready to contribute to the collective in the important Round 22 meeting.
“John will start,” Arnold said. “We bought him out from Scotland for a reason and that’s to play.”
“He’s looked very good in training, he’s fitted into the group extremely well. It’s just a matter of him now learning how we play and the players around him learning how he plays. He’s a hardened pro and we’re very excited to have him here.”
Speaking with local media following the Mariners final session before the crunch tie with Ricki Herbert’s Phoenix team, Sutton said that while the Australian summer is a distinct difference from the Scottish winter, he feels he is ready to go.
“The training’s been really good,” Sutton said. “Obviously there is a bit of an adaptation in terms of the temperature but I think I’ve certainly gotten used to it now, there’s no jetlag so I’m ready to get going tomorrow.”
Sutton added that his new teammates had impressed him in his first full week of training, and that coach Arnold had underlined the importance of him working hard within the group.
“Training with the boys we’ve got a lot of good players here,” he said. “He’s (Arnold) just asked me to come in and compliment the boys who have done so well.”
“Obviously we’ve got a very hard working team with a lot of good players, so it’s important that I’m just part of the team and try and help other players get the best out of themselves. And likewise hopefully they can provide me with good service.”
“Hopefully come tomorrow we’re going to get a good result and get back on track in terms of results because I think the performances have been very good so far.”
Head-to-Head: All matches (played 13): Central Coast Mariners wins 6, Wellington Phoenix wins 5 (2 draws)
Central Coast Mariners: 2. Daniel MCBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Brad PORTER, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 9. Bernie IBINI, 10. Adriano PELLEGRINO, 12. Troy HEARFIELD, 13. Stuart MUSIALIK, 14. Michael MCGLINCHEY, 15. Brad MCDONALD, 17. Tomas ROGIC, 18. Alex WILKINSON (C), 19. John SUTTON, 20. Justin PASFIELD (Gk), 23. Adam KWASNIK, 24. Mitchell DUKE, 31. Brody CRANE (Gk) *five to be omitted*
In: 4. Pedj BOJIC (returns from injury), 5. Brad PORTER (promoted), 12. Troy HEARFIELD (returns from injury), 13. Stuart MUSIALIK (promoted), 15. Brad MCDONALD (promoted), 24. Mitchell DUKE (promoted), 19. John SUTTON
Out: 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 22. Sam GALLAGHER (both suspended)
Unavailable: 1. Mathew RYAN, 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 22. Mustafa AMINI (all Qantas Australian U23 duty)
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Mark PASTON (GK), 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Brent GRIFFITHS, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Paul IFILL, 9. Chris GREENACRE, 11. DANIEL, 12. Nicky WARD, 14. Mirjan PAVLOVIC, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 19. Jimmy DOWNEY, 20. Tony WARNER (GK), 21. Dani SANCHEZ, 24. Alex SMITH
In: Brent GRIFFITHS (promoted), Mirjan PAVLOVIC (promoted), Manny MUSCAT (returns from suspension), Nicky WARD (returns from injury)
Out: Tim BROWN, Andrew DURANTE (both suspended)
Unavailable: Cameron LINDSAY (international duty), Lucas PANTELIS (knee injury – indefinite)
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners vs. Wellington Phoenix
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Kick-off: 5:30pm
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