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His A-League return has barely made a ripple compared to the arrival of star Socceroos teammates but Jon McKain could prove as good an acquisition as any, according to Adelaide coach Rini Coolen.
The Reds lured the former Wellington Phoenix defender back to the competition after he spent last season at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, with Coolen appointing the 29-year-old captain of a new-look squad.
McKain has become a regular Socceroos squad player under Holger Osieck, and the German coach heaped praise on McKain at the Asian Cup in January for his attitude and value to the squad, despite getting to see little game time.
Coolen said the central defender was a logical choice to lead the Reds this season and into the future.
“What we needed with the changes in our squad was personalities with a lot of experience and I was looking for a player like that as a central defender,” Coolen said of McKain, who has also spent a stint playing in Romania.
“He’s a leader on the pitch but also off the pitch, it was an easy choice for me to make him captain.
“He’s going well with everyone in the club and all the players respect him highly.
“But he’s also taking the responsibility on the pitch, he talks to the players and also with the young guys.
“He brings a lot of energy and that’s what you need.”
The Reds have been tipped as likely title challengers ahead of their season opener away to Perth Glory on Sunday, despite losing last season’s Johnny Warren Medallist Marcos Flores in the off-season.
And Coolen felt signing the likes of McKain, fellow Socceroo Dario Vidosic and former Ukraine international Evgeniy Levchenko had given his squad more balance.
“There are more players that have to fight for a starting position, that’s what I think should be a benefit,” Coolen said.
“I’m pretty confident that our squad is good enough to be competitive and fight for the top position.”
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