Mariners winger Fabio Ferreira will return from injury against Wellington Phoenix

CENTRAL Coast Mariners winger Fabio Ferreira has only been on the sidelines for six weeks but for the player and fans it must feel like a lifetime.

CENTRAL Coast Mariners winger Fabio Ferreira has only been on the sidelines for six weeks but for the player and fans it must feel like a lifetime.

The livewire Portuguese star is set make his first start since round 5 to face Wellington Phoenix on New Year’s Eve, after recovering from a hamstring injury that robbed the Gosford club of their most experienced attacking weapon

With the Mariners shipwrecked at the bottom of the ladder, the midfielder’s return couldn’t soon enough, as he has been forced to watch his teammates suffer six defeats in their last six games.

“It’s been very frustrating,” Ferreira admitted, “because I just want to play and show that I can help the team, especially they way things have been going. I’m not saying if I was playing we’d be winning but I could definitely give a little bit more.”

The Mariners awful form, with just one win and two draws, has clearly taken its toll on the very young team but Ferreira said that a couple of goals or a scrappy win is all that’s need to salvage the season.

“Yes, it’s been very difficult — but it’s important to keep positive. When you lose everyone’s obviously down but the day after you have to put it behind you and train for the next game. We work for each other and try to get a win, it’s so important for morale and confidence.

“We’ll get there, we just need to get some momentum. We’ve had problem scoring but once we get one it will be better.

“I think we’ve been creating a lot of chances but just not scoring, and if you convert those chances to goals you obviously won’t lose as many games. I think I can help put the ball in the net and we can turn it around tomorrow.

The Mariners’ New Year’s Eve fixture has become the biggest on the club’s calendar and Ferreira is hoping the fans will once again show their support, despite recent results.

“Hopefully it will be a good crowd. I understand why people get frustrated — it doesn’t matter if you’re playing good or not, if you don’t win people won’t be there. Once you’re losing, once you’re playing bad, people decide not to go. But hopefully tomorrow it will be a good crowd to help us play well and get us pumped, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Originally published as Mariners winger Fabio Ferreira will return from injury against Wellington Phoenix