Brisbane Roar Head Coach Frans Thijssen has named a straight 16-player squad for his side’s visit to Hunter Stadium to face the Newcastle Jets on Friday.
The only change Thijssen has made to his squad following their 3-2 win over Wellington Phoenix at Suncorp Stadium on Monday evening sees former Jet Jade North return from suspension at the expense of youngster Devante Clut.
Roar are currently placed seventh on the Hyundai A-League ladder with 15 points.
According to BrisbaneRoar.com.au, defender Shane Stefanutto rates the clash against the Jets as a “danger game”, but said the AFC Asian Cup break helped the Queenslanders.
“I think the (AFC Asian Cup) break was fantastic for us,” Stefanutto said. “All the boys have knuckled down, we worked really hard, we’ve brought in signings, it’s just been positive.”
Roar top scorer Henrique is unavailable for the match due to a calf injury. Former Western Sydney Wanderers man Jerome Polenz made his debut for Brisbane earlier in the week and is in the frame to feature again.
Newcastle Jets squad vs. Brisbane Roar: 1. Jess VANSTRATTAN (Gk), 2. Scott NEVILLE, 3. Taylor REGAN (c), 5. Ben KANTAROVSKI, 8. Zenon CARAVELLA, 10. Travis COOPER, 11. Andrew HOOLE, 12. Sam GALLAGHER, 13. Edson MONTANO, 16. Jacob PEPPER, 18. Allan WELSH, 19. Mitch COOPER, 20. Ben KENNEDY (Gk), 21. Daniel MULLEN, 22. Lee KI-JE (visa pending), 26. Nicholas COWBURN, 27. Radovan PAVICEVIC *one to be omitted*
Ins: 1. Jess VANSTRATTAN (Gk) (new signing), 3. Taylor REGAN (promoted), 10. Travis COOPER (new signing), 19. Mitch COOPER (promoted), 21. Daniel MULLEN (new signing), 22. Lee KI-JE (new signing), 26. Nicholas COWBURN (promoted)
Outs: Mark BIRIGHITTI (Gk) (on loan – AS Varese), 4. Kew JALIENS (omitted), 6. Adrian MADASCHI (omitted), 9. Joel GRIFFITHS (omitted), 14. Billy CELESKI (omitted), 23. David CARNEY (omitted)
Unavailable: 15. Joshua BARRESI (knee – season), 17. James VIRGILI (ankle – 8 weeks)
Brisbane Roar FC squad vs. Newcastle Jets: 1. Michael THEO (Gk), 2. Jerome POLENZ, 3. Shane STEFANUTTO, 4. Adam SAROTA, 5. Corey BROWN, 8. Steven LUSTICA, 12. Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 13. Jade NORTH, 14. Daniel BOWLES, 15. James DONACHIE, 17. Matt McKAY (c), 18. Luke BRATTAN, 20. Kofi DANNING, 21. Jamie YOUNG (Gk), 22. Thomas BROICH, 28. Brandon BORRELLO
Ins:13. Jade NORTH (return from suspension)
Outs: 16. Devante CLUT (omitted)
Unavailable: 6. George LAMBADARIDIS (knee – 2 weeks), 10. HENRIQUE (calf – 2 weeks), 23. Dimitri PETRATOS (knee – 3 weeks)
Newcastle Jets vs. Brisbane Roar – Hyundai A-League 2014/15 Round 16
Friday 6 February 2015
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-off: 7:40pm
Tickets: Please click here to purchase tickets to the match.
Twitter: Join the match conversation using #NEWvBRI @NewcastleJetsFC
