Diminutive midfielder Joshua Nisbet has been rewarded for his consistent form for Central Coast Mariners, inking a two-year senior contract with the club on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old has been on a scholarship deal in Gosford but has broken into Alen Stajcic’s first-team this season, making six appearances.

And he’s been one of the Mariners’ best in recent weeks, prompting the club to tie the youngster down on a permanent deal until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2021/22 Season.

“I’m so happy to be part of what Staj is doing here at the Mariners and I’m confident we can build this club back up in the next couple of years,” Nisbet said on the Mariners’ website.

“Every time a new coach comes in they’ve got their preferences and they know what they want, to build, obviously as a player you find a balance between what you think you need to do and what the coach needs to do.



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“I think I’ve found that balance and I think Staj agrees and that’s why I’ve signed this contract.

“There can be a perception that being small doesn’t mean you’re athletic or physically good, so a lot of the time it can be used negatively.

“There is usually a fair bit of doubt initially, and then after a while you slowly build trust and they start believing it’s not the case [that height impacts my game].”

Stajcic has certainly been impressed with Nisbet’s performances, with the playmaker starting all but one match since Round 16.

So good has Nisbet been performing that star import Milan Duric has had to be content with a place on the bench in recent weeks.

“We’re all excited here for Josh to sign this deal and commit to what we’re doing here on the Central Coast,” Stajcic said.

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“He’s worked hard to establish himself as an important member of our squad, and this is just reward for the effort he’s put in.

“It’s an exciting time now where we’re locking in young players like him for the future and it’s a credit to the work done in our Academy that we have so many youngsters who are up to the standard of our league, and that youth production line is starting to shine through now.”



The Mariners are currently on a seven-game losing streak in the Hyundai A-League, a run they are hoping to end in Sunday’s home clash against high-flying Wellington Phoenix.

Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix

Sunday, 8 March

Central Coast Stadium

Kick off: 4pm AEDT

Buy tickets

Match centre