Mariners front man Bernie Ibini. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph
CENTRAL Coast Mariners could be on the verge of losing a second player in the space of five days as talented striker Bernie Ibini is understood to have impressed the coaching staff at Club Brugge.
Mariners coach Graham Arnold confirmed the club was expecting news within the next 24 hours after Ibini reportedly scored two goals and helped set up another during a youth team trial match on Saturday night.
"From what I understand, Bernie did exceptionally on Saturday night so the ball is now in Club Brugge's court," Arnold said yesterday. "It's all up to them. We agreed a transfer amount before Bernie left last week for the trial.
"If Brugge like what they see, they can say 'Yes, we want him', the transfer amount will be activated and the kid will be off to Belgium dependent on his own personal terms."
The 20-year-old, who scored 11 goals in 49 games for the Central Coast after making his debut in the 2010-11 season, is expected back in Sydney tonight and will train with the Mariners tomorrow. Arnold expects him to play against Adelaide United at Bluetongue Stadium on Friday night.
"He is on his way back and will play against Adelaide. Now it is a matter of waiting to see what Brugge decide," Arnold added.
Ibini will give the Mariners some of the attacking potency they missed in the 0-0 draw with Newcastle Jets on Saturday night.
The Mariners had already lost Tom Rogic to Scottish giant Celtic late last week.
In-form Western Sydney attacker Mark Bridge says a determination to prove a point is part of the reason for the club's success.
The Wanderers have all but secured a finals spot in their debut season, climbing to fourth with 29 points - just two wins behind the front-running Central Coast. Despite an excellent record as a quality striker, Bridge was unwanted by Sydney at the end of last season before finding his way to Western Sydney.
But Bridge, who has scored five goals this season, and his teammates have made the critics eat their words.
"I still had a year left at Sydney and left there to come here," Bridge said yesterday after arriving back with the team following Sunday's 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar.
"I, along with a few other players, had something to prove. It has helped me, too, because I have been a lot more professional this year.
"I worked very hard in the pre-season and I am still working hard and being very disciplined so I guess that is the thing that has changed and obviously it is paying off."
"If you work hard in life at anything, good things come."
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