With the Newcastle Jets ready to take off to Melbourne for a six-day camp, Head Coach Scott Miller has rewarded two Jets Youth team players with a spot on the trip.
Young guns Braedyn Crowley and Antonee Burke (pictured above) will travel with the first team as they head down south to face fellow Hyundai A-League club Melbourne City behind closed doors and Victorian National Premier League outfit Bentleigh Greens.
While Crowley was part of the #JETSTOUR squad that toured Northern NSW recently and featured as a substitute in Tuesday’s FFA Cup match, the camp will mark the first time that 18-year-old Burke has spent an extended spell with the senior squad.
The youngster, who will take a week away from his studies at Lambton High to venture on the trip, says the opportunity to spend time with the first team is something that can really help improve him as a footballer.
“It’s very exciting,” Burke said on Friday. “It’s a big step up and it’s a big opportunity for my career.”
The promising local junior has been playing with the Jets in Northern NSW NPL competition and while he says they’ve not had the best season, they’re looking to finish the campaign strongly.
“We’ve got a good group of boys and we could have had better season but we’re looking to finish the season off well.”
Scott Miller says that Burke is promising young talent and it’s important for the club to nurture local players.
“He’s (Burke) a good little player and I’ve seen him play three or four times now,” Miller said.
“He displays that passing threat moving forward and irrespective of his size, he’s got the mentality to compete.
“He’s got a lot of potential and nice technical ability and it’s good to see another young player travelling with the squad.”
Miller said that camp is a good learning opportunity for both Crowley and Burke but above all both have been working hard on pitch and have earnt their spot on the trip.
“It will open their eyes up completely and going away will be the highlight of their career so far,” he said.
“But more importantly they’ve earned their opportunity to come away with the team.”
