Josh Macdonald on the ball in FFA Cup match against Sydney FC in 2016. (Photo — Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Wollongong Wolves wideman Josh Macdonald is set to be snapped up by A-League club Central Coast Mariners with an official announcement to be made potentially as soon as Thursday

It is my understanding Macdonald has been trialling with the Mariners since May with the club offering him a contract for the upcoming 2018/19 season pending a medical. The 22-year-old sat out of the Wolves 1–1 draw with APIA Leichhardt on Saturday night which I understand was due to a request from the Mariners.

The Gosford based club is in the middle of a major rebuilding phase under new head coach Mike Mulvey. Macdonald would be the 10th signing under the new regime after recruiting the likes of Matt Simon and fellow Illawarra youth product Corey Gameiro.

Macdonald — a Unanderra Hearts junior — joined the Wolves midway through the 2016 season after a spell with Western Sydney Wanderers where he made two appearances in the top grade. In his two and a half seasons with the Wolves, he has played 42 League matches scoring four goals. While his goal return isn’t notable, the tricky winger has developed a reputation for his repertoire of jinks and step overs. He also featured for the Wolves in a 2016 FFA Cup match with Sydney FC.

Macdonald has an interesting CV with spells at Sydney FC, NSWIS and Nottingham Forest in his youth career while he has also been capped 14 times for Australia at youth level.