The Blast expects the return of a familiar face tonight when Adauto Neto takes the field at 1st Mariner Arena against New Jersey at 7:35, nearly four months after breaking his right foot during the first practice.

“I can’t wait,” Neto said. “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. I feel good. I just want to get right in and start playing.”

Neto, the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2005-06, missed all but two games last season with a stress fracture in his right shin before injuring his foot on Sept. 24 — three weeks before the season-opener. Neto has been practicing with the Blast at Du Burns Arena for the past month, and is expected to see significant playing time against the Ironmen (8-3), who are led by former U.S. National team goalie Tony Meola.

“This should be a good test for us,” Blast midfielder Robbie Aristodemo said.

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And it’s also one the Blast desperately needs to pass. The Blast (5-5) has lost its past five games — its longest such streak since November 2004 — to fall into sixth-place in the nine-team league, 2 1/2 games behind Chicago, Detroit and New Jersey, which are tied for first place.

After opening the season 5-0, the Blast has collapsed defensively, as they have allowed the opposition to average 13 points the past five games.

New Jersey (8-3), an expansion franchise, is locked in a three-way tie for first place with Detroit and Chicago.

After getting off to a 5-0 start to the season, the Blast lost five consecutive games, allowing 13 points per game and falling from first to sixth place. The Blast plays at Philadelphia (5-7) on Saturday at 7:05.

“The only way we know how to get out of [this slump] is to work,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said. “And that’s what we’re going to do.”

The Ironmen have scored 58 points during its three-game winning streak and have 147 points in 11 games, which ranks third behind Detroit (161) and Monterrey (157). Forward Dan Antoniuk is the third-leading scorer in the league with 16 goals and 35 points, and midfielder Goran Vasic (30 points) and midfielder Lazo Alavanja (29 points) are also among the top-seven scorers.

“Every game is important. It doesn’t matter if it’s against the first or the last team,” Neto said. “Of course, if you beat the first-place team, it gives you more confidence.”

BLAST (5-5) VS. NEW JERSEY IRONMEN (8-3)

» Kickoff: Tonight, 7:35.

» Where: 1st Mariner Arena

» TV/Radio: WCBM 680 AM

» Tickets: Available

mpeters@dcexaminer.com