City needs to stop the rot

RILEY McGree will return to Newcastle tonight for the first time as an opposition player since his famous ‘scorpion kick’ goal helped the Jets reach last year’s A-League grand final.

For McGree’s Melbourne City, it’s a crucial chance to get their season back on track.

Warren Joyce’s City, which now boasts the firepower of Socceroos striker Jamie Maclaren and Tottenham loanee Shayon Harrison in its ranks, have just one win in their past six outings.

Opponent Newcastle is coming home with a wet sail, winning three of its past five matches, including a midweek Champions League clash.

With a gulf of eight points between the Jets and the top six, Ernie Merrick’s side will be going hell for leather to make up the gap and Joyce knows it.

“If you look at their team … at their best, it was the side that got to the grand final and coulda, shoulda won it really,” he said.

“They’re no mugs. Experienced, know their jobs.

“We expect a hard game, we’re ready for that, we want to test ourselves in big games and we’ve got a few good games coming up.”

Those big games include matches against the top three in successive weeks after their trip to the Hunter.

And you’d forgive Joyce from being a little nervous at key players walking a suspension tightrope.

Marquee Ritchie de Laet, captain Scott Jamieson and Harrison Delbridge are all one yellow card away from missing a match; Bart Schenkeveld, McGree, Nathaniel Atkinson and Rostyn Griffiths are two cautions away from a missed match. Joyce said the goal was to nurse them though before the slate was wiped clean in four matches time.