A-League: Central Coast Mariners look to Victorian NPL for reinforcements

MELBOURNE City will line up against the NPL All-Stars on Thursday night — aka Central Coast Mariners.

GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 29: Nikolai Topor-Stanley of the Wanderers is contested by Daniel Heffernan of the Mariners during the round eight A-League match between the Central Coast Mariners and the Western Sydney Wanderers at Central Coast Stadium on November 29, 2015 in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE City will line up against the NPL All-Stars on Thursday night — aka Central Coast Mariners.

The entertaining but budget-conscious club have in recent days signed NPL Victoria stars, defender/midfielder Tomislav Uskok and keeper Alastair Bray, with both a chance to be part of the squad on Thursday night.

Uskok had just agreed to join Sydney United from Melbourne Knights but received a surprise call from Mariners coach Tony Walmsley after trialling for the Gosford-based club in pre-season.

They follow the pre-season signing of prolific Heidelberg United striker Dan Heffernan, who made his second start in last Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Western Sydney.

Meanwhile Bray, a former Melbourne City youth keeper who spent two seasons at Bentleigh Greens, was offered a deal ahead of Hume City keeper Chris Oldfield.

Heffernan’s story is perhaps the most remarkable.

The Manchester-born striker was a semi-professional in England who received a call from Shepparton United in 2012 and had a prolific season there before returning home.

He then received a call from Heidelberg United coach George Katsakis and signed for the club in 2013, enjoying three stellar seasons there.

“I honestly had no idea where Shepparton was, but I enjoyed every moment of the six months I was up there,” Heffernan said.

“Then it was through a mutual friend between myself and George Katsakis that he got in touch with me when I was back in England. We had a Skype call and he said straight away that I want you signed.’’

MEANWHILE Melbourne City may resist the temptation to wait until January for a higher profile injury-replacement for ACL victim Corey Gameiro and opt for Hernan Espindola.

The young attacker has been an injury-replacement for James Brown, who will return in coming weeks.

Olyroos attacker Kwame Yeboah (Borussia Moenchengladbach) may be seeking a loan deal back to the A-League, while former Brisbane Roar striker Reinaldo, who is an Australian citizen, is currently in Melbourne and looking for an A-League deal.

Originally published as A-League: Central Coast Mariners look to Victorian NPL for reinforcements