Central Coast Mariners boss Tony Walmsley says star recruit Luis Garcia will make his A-League starting debut against Adelaide United at Gosford Stadium on Sunday.
Garcia has made three cameo appearances from the bench since his arrival on the coast with great effect, though his fitness was not yet good enough to play from the start.
But Walmsley says the Liverpool great has trained well and will play for at least 60 minutes.
“He (Garcia) is training really well,” Walmsley said.
“We’ve managed him carefully back to this level of fitness.
“There’s always a difference starting a game than coming on, but the role we’re going to give him is one that suits him, he’s played it many times before. He’s clever enough to cause problems.
“With Mitch Austin back in the team, Fabio Ferreira on the other side, the two flying machines, then we’re hoping we can get enough possession to Luis to unlock Adelaide more than we did playing them away from home.
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“I would say he’ll play a good hour. He’ll play smartly, and he’s not going to be pressing hard for us, he’ll just be trying to use his intelligence up in the front third to unlock the door.
“So hopefully he gets on the scoresheet but if he gives a good hour we can bring on some good legs and some good athleticism to replace him than we can finish the game strongly.”
The Mariners must win if they wish to jump off the bottom of the table. Walmsley says his side must produce its best performance of the season.
“We need need to put our best performance of the season together.
“The performance in Brisbane was so far away from where we are and who we are, there needs to be an instant bounce-back.
“Nothing less than our best performance of the year is going to be acceptable, and there’s a real intolerance for it in the group, there’s a bitter disappointment with what was produced.
“The players more than anyone else are looking to rectify things against Adelaide.”
The Mariners sit bottom of the table on 12 points, four behind ninth-placed Wellington Phoenix.
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