Mark Birighitti believes the Jets’ recent performances will give them confidence as they look to break their Wellington hoodoo.
Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti believes the Jets- recent performances will give them confidence as they look to break their Wellington hoodoo against the Phoenix on Sunday.
Birighitti said the Jets had been buoyed by their performances in recent weeks which have seen them notch three consecutive clean sheets en route to one win and two draws.
“Defensively these past three or four weeks we-ve been solid, the boys have fought hard and hopefully we can continue that good form and get three points tomorrow,” he said.
“It-s going to be a tough game, it-s always tough coming to Wellington and playing against them, but we-re on a bit of a roll now and the boys are playing much better football.
“We do have a young side and each game they-ve played, they-ve improved a lot and we-ll go into the game with confidence because of that.
“We-ve had a good week on the training pitch and I have no doubt we can got out there and do the job and hopefully we can this hoodoo that we have over here.”
The suspension of Josh Mitchell means the Jets will be forced to make at least one change to the defensive line that drew 0-0 with the Central Coast Mariners last week.
Taylor Regan is the likely candidate to replace Mitchell and Birighitti said he is confident Regan can pick up where he left off prior to picking up a calf injury.
“That-s one really good thing about our side, we-ve got a lot of depth in the squad and a lot of players fighting for positions,” he said.
“Taylor did a fantastic job when he was playing, but he got injured last week and Josh Mitchell came in and did a fantastic job as well.
“Our back four has been in great form the last few weeks, no matter who has played and I think all-round, we-re in good shape.”
Birighitti said Newcastle will also be boosted by the addition of his former Adelaide United teammate and new Jets signing Zenon Caravella.
“Zenon is a great bloke on and off the pitch and he is a true professional,” Birighitti said.
“He reminds me a bit of Ruben in the sense that he-s a real work horse, he fights for everything and he-s very good on the ball as well.”
