NPL: Veteran leader making comeback for Broadmeadow Magic

The veteran centre-back retired at the end of the 2019 campaign but he has come back to training with Broadmeadow under new coach Damian Zane and will push for a spot in the team.

However, injury has sidelined him from Magic's trial games so far against Northbridge (2-2), Sutherland (2-1 loss) and Bonnyrigg (3-2 loss).

Broadmeadow continue their pre-season against Apia-Leichhardt at Peacock Field as part of the Darren Stewart Cup day honouring the Toronto-Awaba Socceroo, who died in 2018. The match is set down for 4pm, after the Stags take on Apia-Leichhardt under 20s. Proceeds from the day go to Beyond Blue, supporting men's mental health.

"Toronto normally play Apia's 20s, and Apia first-grade were looking for a hit-out so they asked if we would be interested and we said yes," Zane said.

"It's for a good cause and Darren Stewart was a guy I guess my generation idolised. Him, Warren Spink and those type of players.

"I've been pretty happy with how we are playing. A new coach, lots of new players too, and not just from other clubs, but from our 20s who won the grand final. There's a few coming up. We've performed well in all games."

Zane said Piddington and another squad addition, Jake Harris, would be unavailable on Saturday because of injury.

Harris, a left-sided player from North West Sydney Spirit, has ankle bruising. Piddington, who has played more than 340 games for Magic and won six grand finals, has a thigh strain.

"He's been training, although he had a bit of a setback with his thigh," Zane said.

"He wanted to train in and see if he could do it, but he got the thigh strain when we started playing games.

"There's lots of competition for spots but he's up for that and I like that about him."

The pair join Keanu Moore, Jose Atayde, Noah Steinerts and goalkeeper Nate Cavaliere as additions to Zane's squad. A loss, though, is midfielder Cody Carroll.

"Cody is probably going to miss the year because of work. He's struggling to get to training," Zane said.