Head coach Mike Mulvey believes Central Coast Mariners will be able to properly judge Usain Bolt by January.

Eight-time Olympic champion Bolt joined the A-League side in August and played 20 minutes of a pre-season game against a select XI later that month.

The 32-year-old has said he feels his game is improving as he bids to win a professional contract with the side based in Gosford, 30 miles north of Sydney.

Mulvey said: “Usain is progressing and that’s the main thing. From the outset, we said he needed time, we said we would give him 12 months if need be.

“A reasonable assumption would be that around January we should be judging where he’s at.

“We’re going to be ramping up our individual sessions with him over the next few weeks, so he will be given every opportunity.”

Bolt said he is looking to get more playing minutes – and could line up as part of a Mariners side who will play Macarthur South West United on October 12.

“I feel like I’m improving. My touch is getting better, I’ve got a while to go but with more training and more dedication to my craft I will be fine,” he said.