The Jets face Lake Macquarie City FC on Wednesday as the first block of their pre-season schedule draws to a close.
The Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets will play a trial match against Lake Macquarie City FC at Macquarie Field on Wednesday night as the first six-week block of their pre-season schedule draws to a close.
Wet weather saw the Jets- first two scheduled pre-season fixtures called-off, but head coach Gary van Egmond said he has been pleased with the Jets- start to pre-season and is looking forward to Wednesday-s clash.
“It will just be important for the players to have a game,” van Egmond said.
“It-s a long, long pre-season and if you don-t start playing games it can be very mentally draining.
“The weather has made things a little bit more difficult and obviously we haven-t be able to play a couple of games that we would have liked to against local teams.
“Apart from that, it-s been a very good start to the pre-season.”
The persistent rain in Newcastle has forced the Jets to relocate training to Tomaree Sports Complex in Nelson Bay this week.
“We-ve been very lucky that we-ve been able to head up to Nelson Bay to train and we-re very grateful for Nelson Bay Football Club and the council for hosting us,” van Egmond said.
“It was very important that we found a pitch where we could continue using the ball in training rather than being stuck in a gym.
“Thankfully we-ve been able to continue giving the players what they need, which is touches on the ball and as much work as you can in a football conditioning sense.”
The Jets will have next week off before returning to training on Monday, July 15.
Van Egmond said he is looking forward to having a near full-strength squad to work with again, after injury and national team duty had depleted training numbers in recent weeks.
“We-re really looking forward to coming back after a week off and getting our Young Socceroos back as well as the boys who are currently in Socceroos camp,” van Egmond said.
“By that time we should have a few more boys on the way back from injury and we-ll start to look like a full squad again.”
Newcastle Jets FC v Lake Macquarie FC
Macquarie Field (Creek Road, Speers Point)
Wednesday, July 3
Kick-off 7pm
A curtain-raiser match will be played at 6pm between the LMCFC Footballers with Intellectual Disabilities and U12A teams.
