McPherson, who played one game off the bench for the Jets in the 2005-06 season and 10 games in the old National Soccer League, signed up this week but will not take the field for the Bluebells until May 8.

The 25-year-old comes to the club from NSW Premier League side Sydney Olympic, where he played as a defender.

Contractual obligations prevent him from playing until West Wallsend’s game against Broadmeadow Magic in a fortnight.

Bluebells coach Chris Miner said the delay saved him from having to make a ‘‘tough call’’ over the starting line-up for tomorrow’s game against South Cardiff.

A 10-man West Wallsend side defeated Valentine Phoenix 3-1 last week after the 20th-minute send-off of goalkeeper Rob Askew.

‘‘I would have found it really hard to change the team after last week’s performance,’’ Miner said.

‘‘It was the best win I’ve been involved in.’’

Miner said McPherson further strengthened his experienced side.

He said the up-front combination of Todd McManus and 2009 leading goalscorer John Majurovski was working well, and the club’s 2009 player of the year, Shannon Mangovski, would return to the park tomorrow after missing the first two rounds due to a carry-over suspension.

‘‘We’re not short of experience,’’ Miner said. ‘‘We’d have to have one of the most experienced sides in the league along with Edgeworth, Magic and Olympic.’’

The club’s other senior players include John Stojanovski, Doug West and goalkeeper Simon Devetak.

‘‘We can’t expect everything to fall into place for us against South Cardiff just because of last week’s good result,’’ Miner said.

‘‘We know it’ll be a fight.

‘‘The whole competition is so open. Already after two rounds if you’re not on your game, you’re going to get hurt. It makes for a really good competition.’’

In matches tonight, Weston meet Broadmeadow Magic at Weston Park at 6pm, Toronto-Awaba play Valentine Phoenix at Peacock Field at 7pm and Hamilton Olympic host Edgeworth at Darling Street Oval at the same time.