Injury-plagued attacker Corey Gameiro has been thrown an A-League lifeline by the Central Coast Mariners.
Released last week by Brisbane Roar, the 25-year-old has signed on with the Mariners for next season.
It gives the one-time Fulham prospect another chance to get his promising career back on track.
Gameiro has shown flashes of absolute quality over the years but his progress has been repeatedly hampered by a seemingly endless run of fitness issues, including three knee reconstructions.
"As an individual, I've been through adversity - I think the club has gone through that as well in recent years," Gameiro said of the Mariners.
"It's time for the club to come out of that and it's something I really want to be a part of.
"I know a handful of the boys from when I was captain of the Australian under 23's, they know what sort of person I am and how hungry I am to succeed, so I will be there from day one of pre-season to drive that as much as I can."
Roar coach John Aloisi signed him on a one-year contract for the 2017-18 season but the Port Kembla product was unable to score in 18 appearances - all but two of them coming off the bench.
Brisbane subsequently cut him and have elected for state-league goal machine Dylan Wenzel-Halls as their preferred back-up for high-profile recruit Adam Taggart.
Gameiro, however, can now look forward to his first injury-free pre-season in four years, under the Mariners new coach Mike Mulvey.
He joins former Wanderers defender Jack Clisby as Mulvey's first two signings as part of an overhaul of the squad that finished bottom of the A-League.
"We are working hard to add more attacking weapons to our front third this season and Corey is the first, of several new players, we will bring in to the strengthen that area of our game," Mulvey said.
Australian Associated Press
