Bernardo Ribeiro will wear Jets colours for the first time in tonight’s trial match against the Rockdale City Suns.
Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets Brazilian recruit Bernardo Ribeiro will wear Jets colours for the first time in tonight-s trial match against the Rockdale City Suns at Ilinden Sports Complex.
Jets head coach Gary van Egmond revealed the attacking midfielder will make an appearance off the bench in the second half of the fixture.
“We-ll ease (Bernardo) in to begin with,” van Egmond said.
“The pace of the game might be a little bit further out in the second half and he-ll get some game time on Tuesday as well as Saturday (against Wellington).”
Ribeiro has only a handful of training sessions with his new teammates under his belt, but van Egmond says he-s already happy with what he has seen from the 22-year-old.
“He-s settling in nicely,” van Egmond said.
“Obviously it-s still going to take a little bit of time for him. His physical state is good. It-s just more so that he needs games under his belt and more training sessions within the group, but the signs are promising early.
“He-s got a point of difference which is exactly what we needed, playing in a wide area or as an attacking midfielder.
“There-s quite a bit there for him to understand, but he-s been used to playing in a similar system previously in Brazil, so I don-t think it will take too long.”
Van Egmond said that Ribeiro-s ability to beat defenders with technical skill or precise passing were his biggest assets.
“It-s nice to have someone in the middle of the park who can go past people. The fact that he can go past people,” van Egmond explained.
“Technically he-s very good with his touches and we tend not to have too many of those players coming through the system at the moment.
“He can provide, but he can also score, so that-s also a part of it, that he sees that killer ball.”
Match details:
Newcastle Jets v Rockdale City Suns
Ilinden Sports Centre
Tuesday, August 14
Kick-off 7pm.
