Mariappa makes England return
Published:Sunday | October 9, 2022 | 12:09 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
NATIONAL MIDFIELDER Adrian Mariappa’s Australian adventure has ended and the defender is making a return to England.
Mariappa, 36, signed a short-term deal with English League One outfit Burton Albion, ending his 10-month stint with Australian A-League outfit, Macarthur FC, after 19 appearances with the club.
Mariappa’s signing comes after he spent time with Albion training, making his return to English football for the first time since the 2020-2021 season when he played for English Football League Championship side Bristol City. The move was announced on Friday.
With another piece added to the defence, Albion head coach Dino Maamria said Mariappa’s inclusion will help in their push to surge from where the club currently finds itself, in the bottom three of the standings after 13 games.
“He brings a lot of very, very good experience, he’s a good talker on the field and he adds another option for us,” Maamria said on the club’s website.
Additionally, Maamria says Mariappa’s level of fitness will be invaluable in adjusting immediately to the team, having played against Argentina on international duty two weeks prior.
“He’s kept himself fit – his last game was just two weeks ago for Jamaica against Argentina. He had a good season in Australia last year, so he’s been at a high standard,” Maamria said.
Mariappa, in the meantime, is eager to get started on changing the fortunes of the club, which finished 16th last season and has got off to a difficult start this year, winning just two of their 13 games.
“I want to thank the manager and the chairman for the opportunity to represent the club. I’m delighted to be here with a brilliant group of lads,” Mariappa told the club’s website.
“I’m looking forward to getting started and to helping the team push up the table.”
With his latest signing, he has now played in three of the four tiers of the English football pyramid, having made 168 appearances in the English Premier League, 93 of those with Watford, who he helped win promotion in 2006.
Mariappa made his debut yesterday in his team’s 1-1 draw with Peterborough which sees them remain in 23rd place with eight points. Mariappa could make his home debut next Saturday when Albion hosts Morecambe.