Central Coast coach Nick Montgomery is thrilled Beni N'Kololo is hitting top form for his A-League Men team after the French attacker scored another goal in Saturday's 2-1 win over Brisbane.
The 25-year-old's smart finish after a delightful lofted pass from Scottish-born Socceroos aspirant Jason Cummings early in the second half in Gosford was his third in three matches.
It also set the Mariners on the way to their first win in the ALM since December 18 and ended a 20-game wait stretching back to 2014 to defeat Brisbane.
Montgomery said it was pleasing to see N'Kololo fit and firing after a tough start to life in Australia.
"He had an outstanding first game of the season against the Jets, then got a really bad ankle injury," Montgomery said.
"We thought he'd fractured it and he spent four weeks on the sideline, came back and then we had COVID and then we have games off and games on.
"It was really difficult for him to get any rhythm.
"Then he was out of the team and he was coming on and trying super hard.
"He's just needed that confidence and we can see now he's a top, top quality player.
"He's very hard to deal with and put him in the box, he's lethal."
Having ended a seven-game run without a win in the league, Montgomery was hopeful the tide was turning for the Mariners at the right time in the season -- especially as he tries to get other key members of his team back on the park.
"At the end of the day we're just about getting the squad together," he said.
"Matty Simon is still missing, a massive loss for us all season.
"We're hoping that he can make a return at some point.
"Just keep plodding on with what we've got."
