New Central Coast Mariners recruit Blake Powell believes his side has trained with much more intensity under new coach Paul Okon as the Hyundai A-League season fash approaches.
Powell made the move from Wellington to Gosford in the off-season, and has become one of the most consistent preforming players so far during the pre-season.
The 25-year-old is playing in a new number 10 role for Okon, and is loving every bit of the position.
“It's about me getting on that half turn and facing forward and playing those balls in for Connor Pain and Roy [O'Donovan] to go on and finish,” Powell said.
“We talk every day at training to try and familiarise ourselves with each other and different runs. It's coming along well.
“I've seen a big improvement in the team since Paul's come in. We're training at a higher intensity which means our fitness is getting up there as well so we can compete,” Powell added on Okon.
“We have the talent in the team as well, so we can test ourselves against any team in the A-League.”
Powell was joined at the Mariners by former Phoenix teammate Kwabena Appiah on the Central Coast, as Appiah looks to finally cement himself in an A-League side.
Appiah made his A-League debut back in 2012 but has only made 40 appearances in that time frame, although the pacey forward is keen to have a break out year despite never scoring an A-League goal.
“I'm very, very hungry. I'm going ballistic…I need to break that A-League duck,” Appiah said.
“I've got confidence building up from scoring goals [in pre-season] and leading into the season, given the right opportunity if I do score it will open the floodgates.”
