Arnold hails veteran McBreen

Central Coast coach Graham Arnold says the A-League’s leading scorer Daniel McBreen has done enough to earn a new contract with the side.

The striker scored again in a 1-1 draw at Wellington on Saturday to keep himself as the surprise leader of the competition’s scoring charts, extending his lead over Phoenix marksman Jeremy Brockie.

The well-travelled veteran joined the Gosford outfit in 2011 with expectations of filling in behind youthful front men Tomas Rogic and Bernie Ibini.

And his supporting role in last year’s minor premiership looked to be the limit of his endeavours.

However, he has enjoyed a new lease on life in 2012/13, with 10 goals in as many starts securing a regular berth in Arnold’s first XI.

And the Mariners supremo is expecting the 35-year-old to be around a little longer than April, when his contract expires.

Arnold said: “It’s round 12, there’s a long way to go but Macca’s done very well.

“In the first 10 games he’s got 10 goals, so we need him to continue that type of form to give us any chance of maintaining where we are.”

The draw in New Zealand put daylight between the Mariners and second-placed Adelaide United following the South Australian club’s shock 6-1 defeat at Western Sydney.

Arnold took little comfort from the result and stated the rout underlined how competitive the current edition of the A-League is.

“It’s a tough league and there’s no easy games.

“I told the boys before the game to take a look at the comments from the Adelaide player Nigel Boogaard and coach John Kosmina. And they were saying that they didn’t turn up.”

“That type of thing can happen. But one thing I’m very proud of with my team is that they always turn up. There hasn’t been one game like that in the two-and-a-half years I’ve been here.

“At the end of the day there are games where you turn up, play wonderful football and take all your chances. There’s other games where it’s not your best day and you grind out a point.”

The Mariners travel to Sydney FC for a December 27 clash with their New South Wales neighbours.