CHARLESTOWN City Blues have received a lift for tomorrow's game against Edgeworth with well-travelled Josh Maguire cleared to return to the club.
Maguire's clearance from the Indonesian Football Association was received yesterday and Blues coach Mark Wilson had no qualms about parachuting the central midfielder immediately into his starting side at Jack McLaughlan Oval.
"He's just come off their pre-season training, so he has finished full-time training 10 days ago," Wilson said.
"So his fitness isn't too bad."
The 32-year-old last played for the Blues in 2008, when the then-Azzurri lost the Northern NSW State League final against Broadmeadow.
At the time Maguire was the Blues' star player and among the top echelon of footballers in the competition.
Since then Maguire has traversed the globe playing for Dundalk FC (Ireland), Ho Chi Minh City FC (Vietnam), Persebaya 1927, PSPS Pekanbaru, Semarang United and Persires Bali Devata FC (Indonesia).
Before joining Charlestown in 2007, Maguire played 13 A-League games for the New Zealand Knights.
Wilson said he expected Maguire to be even more dominant in the State League after four years of professional football in Asia.
"Watching him at training last night, he had some decent touches," Wilson said yesterday. "He's a big boost for us."
Maguire will replace midfielder Jay Richley, who is sidelined for four to six weeks after tearing a groin muscle.
Last week the Blues went down 5-2 to defending champions Broadmeadow after first-choice goalkeeper Andrew Goldman was sent off in the 15th minute for a foul on striker Peter Haynes.
At the time the match was 1-all, and rookie gloveman Kyle Predebon took over.
Predebon will start tomorrow as Goldman serves an automatic one-match ban, and Wilson expects the 19-year-old to improve.
"He's actually played several State Cup games over the years, so it wasn't his first hit-out," he said. "He's a confident kid and he'll do well."
Edgeworth also have some new blood in their ranks in Germans Marco Di Biccari and Ali Parhizi.
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Di Biccari will debut in under 23s tomorrow, while Parhizi is still awaiting a clearance.
Eagles coach Gary Wilson said his imports would need to earn their first-grade spots in a side that has started the season with a 1-1 draw with Weston and a 2-0 win over Lake Macquarie.
"We're in a better position than we were this time last year, so we've just got to work off that," Wilson said.
"We're looking good with the ball, so I don't think there will be any changes."