For Newcastle Jets flyer Andrew Hoole Wednesday night’s Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 clash with Melbourne Victory at Magic Park in Broadmeadow will represent a homecoming on a number of fronts.
Not only will Hoole return to the ground where he started his senior career at with Broadmeadow Magic at PS4 National Premier League level, but the Australian youth international will also play his first competitive fixture for the Jets since returning to the club from Sydney FC in June.
Speaking with local press following training at Magic Park on Tuesday, Hoole said that he feels that he learnt plenty during his spell with the Sky Blues, and is now eager to contribute to a Scott Miller coached Jets who have made him feel exceptionally welcome since his return to the club.
“I have settled back in [to the Jets] well,” Hoole explained. “Obviously pre-season has been tough, which it always is, so we are going into tomorrow night’s game full of confidence and fully focussed.”
“I think going to Sydney was good for me – it helped my game a lot. I learnt a lot of things down there [and] I am looking forward to bringing those things back to Newcastle to try and help the young ones as well.”
“It’s nice to be back in familiar territory, and I am looking forward to putting on a good show tomorrow night,” he said.
Hoole joined Broadmeadow Magic when he was “about 16” and advanced through their pathway to play a number of first team games as a teenager.
A shift to Jets Youth then occurred, before Hoole became a mainstay for the club’s Hyundai A-League squad between 2013 and 2015.
While the Jets were disappointed to see Hoole head south to Sydney last year, the livewire attacker is determined to make the most of his second spell at his hometown club.
“The club is moving in a good direction,” Hoole explained. “Scott has laid a good platform for the players this season [and] we need to take on board the information that he is giving us.”
“We need to be confident in front of goal – that’s one thing Jets lacked last season and we’ll look to rectify that this season, starting tomorrow night.”
“[Playing Melbourne Victory is a] big test but a good test for us I think – it’s good to get straight into it with a club like Victory. They are coming off two good results as well, so they have got momentum, but we’ll look to give them a good run tomorrow night.”
“I think to train here [Magic Park] is good for the team. It is good to get out there and get a feel of the surface,” Hoole concluded.
Newcastle Jets vs. Melbourne Victory – Westfield FFA Cup 2016 Round of 32
When: Wednesday 3 August 2016
Where: Magic Park, Broadmeadow
Kick-off: 7:30pm
Gates open: 6:30pm
Tickets: Please click here to purchase tickets to the match
Social media: Join the match conversations using #NEWvMVC & #FFACup
