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Jan 10, 2012   |  6:55PM AET

Magilton having an immediate impact

Magilton having an immediate impact

He has only taken one training session but new coach Jim Magilton already has Melbourne Victory players believing they can turn their season around.

He has only taken one training session but new coach Jim Magilton already has Melbourne Victory players believing they can turn their season around.

The Northern Irishman on Tuesday took his new side through their paces for the first time ahead of their clash with the resurgent Adelaide United on Friday night.

It was a taxing two-hour workout for the sixth-placed Victory but there was still time for a laugh or two at Gosch’s Paddock.

Midfielder Grant Brebner said Magilton had shown both a ruthless and jocular side to his personality.

“I think it’s the British mentality that we all like to have a little bit of a laugh and joke during training,” he said.

“When we got down here it was very serious but light-hearted when it needed to be.”

“It was a decent session.”

Magilton got to know the players at a recovery session after Victory’s 2-1 home win over Newcastle Jets on Saturday night and is still learning their names.

“Everybody at the club is going to start afresh,” Brebner said.

“There will be players with reputation and there will be young players breaking through but we will all be on the same page and who knows what he will decide on Friday night.”

“We won’t set any targets but we know what we need to do individually and collectively to move up the league and start challenging the top teams,” he said.

Brebner said the team was upbeat ahead of Friday’s match at AAMI Park.

Captain Adrian Leijer could return from injury though midfielder Billy Celeski is still troubled by a groin injury.

“The (feeling in the) changing room has had a huge lift this week with the result and with the new manager and Friday night can’t come quick enough,” Brebner said.

“We are not always going to win games but hopefully we will play attractive football that people will want to come and watch.”