He produced one of the best goals ever seen in the Hyundai A-League last season but Riley McGree is only looking forward now and wants to make a big impression in his first competitive outing for Melbourne City.
Fresh from their tour of India last month, McGree says the City squad are full of confidence heading into their FFA Cup Round of 32 clash against Brisbane Roar next Tuesday, August 7.
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McGree, on loan at City from his Belgium side Club Brugge for the 2018/19 Season, made an instant impact for his new club in India.
He scored two goals and was named man-of-the-match in his debut game for the club - the 6-0 win against Kerala Blasters - and he hopes to carry that form into the first competitive match of the season against John Aloisi's troops.
“You have to be confident going into most games and I think the team has prepared well under the coach [Warren Joyce] and the way we want to play, so it should be a good game and I’m ready for it,” McGree said.
“There’s definitely still hard work to do in the pre-season and the upcoming games.
"It was good to make my debut and score a few but, more importantly, we got the win and we had something to build on.”
The last two meetings between the clubs has seen City emerge victorious, including in last season's Elimination Final.
While both sides are still very early in their pre-season campaigns, McGree feels his side’s trip to India brought the group closer together as they look to progress to the Round of 16.
“I think going on a tour like that with all the players, you really get to know them and you’re with them pretty much 24/7,” he said.
“On a personal level, and in terms of getting to know one another, it’s helped and improved and that can help on the field as well.
“Everyone’s worked quite well and under the coaching staff and the way we want to play so far so it’s been positive.
"Hopefully we can take the positives into the upcoming FFA cup game.”
City's clash with Roar will be played at Dolphin Stadium in Brisbane next Tuesday, kicking-off 7.30pm.
You can watch the match on FOX Sports stream available on FOX Sports on demand via web or Apple TV.
