Bolt in toughest race

Usain Bolt has a few more months to prove his footballing prowess in Australia.

Central Coast Mariners coach Mike Mulvey said yesterday he will wait until January before assessing the progress of eighttime Olympic gold medallist sprinter Bolt, who is set to have his next pre-season match for the Mariners in mid-october.

Bolt, who hopes to earn an A-league contract with the team based on the Gold Coast, will likely play on October 12 against Sydney league side Macarthur South West United. The A-league season kicks off on October 19.

‘‘If I get to start it will be a big thing for me,’’ Bolt said. ‘‘It shows that the work that I’ve been putting in since I’ve been here is really paying off and the coach has confidence in me and he sees the improvement and the work I’ve been putting in.’’

Bolt saw his first action for the Mariners on August 31, playing 20 minutes against a Central Coast selection side. He played the entire second half against the North Shore Mariners on September 19, when he again alternated between left wing and striker.

Mulvey said yesterday Bolt was progressing.

‘‘In the initial dispatches talked about he needed time, I said at the time we will give him 12 months if need be,’’ Mulvey said.

‘‘But I think a reasonable assumption would be around about Christmas time, January, we should be really judging on whether he’s really improved or not improved. He’s slowly getting there.’’