Melbourne City coach Aurelio Vidmar confident his side’s season is on the up after an honesty session among his players

Melbourne City players didn’t hold back in a private soul-searching session that pleased coach Aurelio Vidmar.

Melbourne City’s Mathew Leckie is making good progress in his return from a knee injury. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

A players-only honesty session has Melbourne City coach Aurelio Vidmar confident the A-League heavyweights are returning to their best.

City have failed to inspire this season, with their poor start to campaign costing Rado Vidosic his coaching job last month.

Vidmar’s appointment brought with it an immediate win, but since then City’s form has been patchy at best

It led to a players’ meeting during the club’s recent AFC Champions League trip to Japan, where they drew 3-3 with Venforet Kofu.

On their return to Australia, City beat Newcastle 2-0 last Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium last Sunday, and hope to secure back-to-back A-League wins for the first time this season on Friday night against Perth Glory at HBF Park.

“I’m not privy to exactly what was said among the players but they knew that they weren’t performing, and they needed to get things out in the open,” Vidmar said of the soul-searching session.

“The policy here has always been to be honest and upfront, and truthful.

“Sometimes those conversations are hard to have. We’re growing up.

“The more conversations the players can have among themselves the better it is. Hopefully that’s a good foundation for things moving forward.”

Coach Aurelio Vidmar is confident that Melbourne City is on the rise. Picture: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

In further good news for City. Socceroos star Mathew Leckie is edging closer to a return to the starting team after making good progress in his comeback from a knee injury.

The 32-year-old winger, who injured his knee while in Socceroos camp in September, has come off the bench in City’s past two matches in all competitions.

“He’s had a fair few minutes now. He’s certainly up for selection (against Perth),” Vidmar said of Leckie.

City meet a Glory side chasing its second win of what has so far been an ordinary season.

However, Glory coach Alen Stajcic was confident his would “get where we want to be”.

“There’s no magic wand to make sure it happens this week, or next week, or the week after,” Stajcic said.

“You just have to knuckle down and do the hard work, and little bit by little bit, put those building blocks in place.

“We know we’re coming up against probably the best footballing team in the competition over the last four or five years in terms of their ability to build up play and keep possession.

“They have so much quality on the field and on the bench as well, so we know we’re coming up against a good team, but if we play to our levels, I think we’re going to be a real threat.”