Central Coast goal scorer Danny De Silva is starting to deliver on his teenage promise | Alds

It feels like yesterday that the once wonderkid of Australian Football burst onto the A-League scene as a 15 year old debutant for the Perth Glory and was signed by Italian giants Roma just a year after (the deal was later cancelled).

But after nearly a decade of trying to deliver on his exemplary skill and natural talent, amid stints at Roda JC in Holland and Sydney FC, it’s all seemingly starting to click on the Central Coast in what has loomed as a crunch season in his career.

The diminutive dynamo fired the Mariners to a magical come from behind victory over Melbourne City on Wednesday night and back to the top of the table, after winning the ball back in midfield himself and then launching a laser like effort home from outside the 18-yard box.

It was a moment that put an exclamation mark on a hugely impressive individual season to date for the five-foot-seven attacking midfielder.

“Yeh, for me it’s a big year for sure and I want to do the best I can for both myself and the club. As a club we want to have more success and by me finding some form and hopefully continuing to play like I know I can, I can help us do that,” De Silva said.

Despite securing four of the last five wooden spoons, it seems clear that this current Mariners crop are finally turning the corner and while De Silva’s focus is firmly on the continuation of that quest another crack at an overseas club remains on his mind.

“For sure, any Australian footballer has aspirations to go overseas. That’s still definitely something I want to do,” he said.

“I enjoyed my time there and would love to go back but the focus is just on having success at the Mariners and if something eventuates from that it would be fantastic.”

A lot of credit for the Danny De Silva revival should be reserved for his manager Alen Stajcic, who has afforded the West Australian product chief playmaking responsibilities in his organised, unified and energetic Mariners outfit.

“A lot has been said about Danny over the years. I think everyone knows what he’s got in his locker. For me I think he can get even better,” Stajcic said.

“Once he starts replicating his quality on the ball week in, week out then he’s really going to get to the position that everyone knows he can. He’s just a tremendous footballer and consistency is really the key for him.”