An initial 18-player squad for Easter Monday’s matchup against Perth Glory has today been named by the Newcastle Jets coaching staff.
Andrew Hoole and Allan Welsh have been added to the 16 players involved in the game day squad for the team’s narrow last start loss to Adelaide United at Hunter Stadium last weekend.
Hoole returns to the Jets’ squad after travelling to Chinese Taipei with the Australian U23 team. During his time with the Olyroos in Kaohsiung City, Hoole managed a hat-trick against Myanmar.
Welsh was 17th man last Sunday when the Jets challenged the Reds.
Today Jets Assistant Coach James Pascoe told local media that despite Glory being set to arrive in Newcastle under FFA investigation for alleged salary cap breaches, the Jets would continue to focus on their game and not worry about whether the ongoing investigation would act as a distraction or prove to be a motivating factor for their rivals.
“I think our focus has to remain on ourselves,” Pascoe said. “We can’t control anything that’s happening over there in Perth.”
“It would be nice if it did affect their performance, but we expect a fully professional [Perth] group to turn up, one that is still in with a fight of trying to gain the minor premiership.
“We’ll be prepared for a very good Perth team,” he said.
Pascoe added that the Jets staff would “check” on Hoole on Thursday afternoon to ensure that he has returned from Asia physically fine.
Ben Kantarovski took part in light training away from the group today, but Pascoe said he is expected to be back involved with full team training on Saturday and Sunday.
“We’ll check on Andrew Hoole this afternoon,” he said. “He’s back from the Olyroos trip.”
“It’s obviously a bonus for Andrew that he scored a hat-trick over there in the last game.
“Hopefully he’s come through that 100 per cent from a physical point of view.
“Ben Kantarovski hasn’t been on the field the last two days … his loads have to be managed a little bit at the minute because of a groin issue.
“But indicators are that he’ll be right for the back end of the week,” Pascoe concluded.
Newcastle Jets Squad vs. Perth Glory: 3. Taylor REGAN (C), 5. Ben KANTAROVSKI, 7. Enver ALIVODIĆ, 8. Zenon CARAVELLA, 11. Andrew HOOLE, 12. Sam GALLAGHER, 13. Edson MONTAÑO, 16. Jacob PEPPER, 18. Allan WELSH, 19. Mitch COOPER, 20. Ben KENNEDY (Gk), 21. Daniel MULLEN, 22. Lee KI-JE, 26. Nicholas COWBURN, 27. Radovan PAVICEVIC, 29. Michael KANTAROVSKI, 30. John SOLARI (Gk), 31. Max BURGESS *two to be omitted*
Ins: 11. Andrew HOOLE (returns from international duty), 18. Allan WELSH (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 1. Jess VANSTRATTAN (Gk) (knee – indefinite), 2. Scott NEVILLE (groin – 3 weeks), 15. Joshua BARRESI (knee – season), 17. James VIRGILI (ankle – 4 weeks)
Newcastle Jets vs. Perth Glory – Hyundai A-League 2014/15 Round 24
Date: Monday 6 April 2015
Stadium: Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-off: 5:00pm
Tickets: www.JoinTheJets.org
Television: Live on FOX SPORTS 505
Radio: Live on ABC Grandstand & 1233 ABC Newcastle
Twitter: Join the match conversation using #NEWvPER @NewcastleJetsFC
