Mariners star and ex-Socceroo Trent Sainsbury ruled out until next year with chest injury

Central Coast’s A-League title defence has already hit a major hurdle with an untimely injury to one of the club’s most important players.

A “freak incident” in the gym will sideline Central Coast skipper and former Socceroos defender Trent Sainsbury until at least January in a major blow to the Mariners’ hopes of winning a third successive A-League title.

Having returned to the Gosford-based club in the off-season after 10 years abroad, Sainsbury’s A-League return has now been put on hold after he tore his pectoral muscle.

“Trent’s going to be out until the new year,” Mariners coach Mark Jackson said ahead of Friday night’s season-opening grand final rematch between Central Coast and Melbourne Victory at Industree Group Stadium.

“It’s a big blow for him and for us in particular.

“It was a freak incident in the gym., He tore a pec muscle, which, like anything, you delve deeper into in after the incident, and (there was) nothing which any of the staff or him could have done differently. It’s just one of those freak incidents that happens.”

Jackson admitted Sainsbury’s leadership in a Mariners team that had lost a host of last season’s treble-winning squad would be missed.

Some incredible memories from the last time we faced Melbourne! 🥹

It's almost time to make some new ones! 💪

🎟: https://t.co/71Ee9aZJdx#CCMFC#RideTheWave🌊 pic.twitter.com/XOAe95ItHA

— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) October 16, 2024

“But off the pitch he’s still there. He understands he has a massive role to play, particularly with the young players in the squad, being that mentor off the pitch as well as working hard to get himself back fit as soon as possible,” Jackson said.

“With him missing for that length of time it’s a blow, but we’ve dealt with that in our minds now, we’ve dealt with that as a squad and we understand that’s the situation.

“I really have a good feeling about the players, particularly this week leading up to this game. They feel ready and prepared and hungry to get going.”

The Mariners have lost both of their AFC Champions League Elite matches in a slow start to their 2024-25 campaign, but Jackson knows from last season, when Central Coast began its championship defence with four successive defeats, that time is on his team’s side.

“It will take time again this year,” he said.

Despite the Mariners’ problems, Victory coach Patrick Kisnorbo expects a tough test for his team in Gosford.

“They are the current A-League champions … but for us, it’s just worrying about ourselves,” Kisnorbo said.

Socceroos pair Nishan Velupillay and Jason Geria were due to link with their Victory teammates on the Central Coast on Thursday after landing in Sydney on Wednesday night following Australia’s 1-1 draw with Japan on Tuesday.

“We’ve got something in place for them, but they should be available for selection,” Kisnorbo said.

The other Victory player from the Socceroos squad, playmaker Daniel Arzani, is unavailable for Friday night’s game due to a suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards in last season’s finals series,