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Zahra keen to reward coach's faith

Zahra keen to reward coach's faith

Perth Glory winger Adrian Zahra is enjoying the opportunities being afforded to him under interim coach Kenny Lowe and is eager to repay the faith with his performances on the pitch.

Zahra has started three times and made another appearance off the bench in four matches since Lowe took over from sacked former boss Alistair Edwards last month.

The change of coach and an injury to Japanese winger Ryo Nagai, who has since had his loan deal terminated, has given Zahra the chance to impress.

The 23-year-old scored a cracking opener in the 3-0 win over Melbourne Heart last week and is expected to be in the starting line-up against Brisbane on Friday despite being on light duties at training today due to tightness.

“Right now I just want to keep backing up my performances and continue to push for a spot in the starting 11,” Zahra said.

“Hopefully I get that chance again this week and I take it again with both hands.

“Kenny’s come in and shown a lot of faith in me and obviously I appreciate that. Now it’s just about repaying that faith.

“I’m just taking it game by game and week by week and hopefully come the season’s end I’m still here.”

Zahra said Lowe’s straightforward approach on the training ground had been well received.

“It’s been great. He’s come in and he’s really set the standard high,” Zahra said.

“He’s been immense. He’s gone in there, he’s very direct, very structured and very black and white.

“If you implement what he asks, he repays you with (game time).”

Marquee defender William Gallas trained with the squad today after missing the past seven matches with a torn right calf muscle.

Gallas and Josh Risdon (knee) are on the verge of returning to the senior team, but Glory’s injury-hit defensive unit took another blow today when Riley Woodcock went down with what appeared to be a minor ankle injury.

With first-choice left-back Scott Jamieson (Achilles) ruled out for the season and Steve Pantelidis allowed to leave for Malaysia last month, Glory are looking to bolster their defensive stocks.

Central defender Adrian Madaschi and defensive midfielder Rostyn Griffiths have both recently parted ways with Asian clubs and have been training with Glory this week.

Chief executive Jason Brewer confirmed the club was interested in signing the pair and had room to include them in the squad and salary cap.

Meanwhile, Young striker Jamie Maclaren has recovered from groin injury but is waiting on a clearance from FFA before being included in this week’s squad.

The injury forced Maclaren to pull out of the Australia’s team for the AFC Under-22 Championship and his return must now be ticked off by the governing body.