The squad for Saturday night’s clash at home against Melbourne Victory is in, with a big name potentially in line for his first Hyundai A-League appearance in Jets colours.
Pending a fitness test tomorrow, Wes Hoolahan has been named in the extended 20-man squad which is in the mix for game time in the Round 20 clash.
The Irishman has been training strongly for a number of weeks, with medical staff and the player himself erring on the side of caution to ensure an unencumbered return to the park.
Whether or not he’ll play this weekend is still up for debate, but Jets fans are sure to be salivating at the thought of the tricky Irish midfielder in the mix for game time.
After last weekend’s 1-1 draw away to Wanderers, Newcastle could move into ninth with a victory against Victory on Saturday.
With third-place Perth Glory the following week, and the bye the week after, Saturday night in Newcastle shapes as a crucial fixture for the Jets.
Newcastle Jets FC Squad: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 2.Bobby BURNS, 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Roy O’DONOVAN, 8.Wes HOOLAHAN, 9.Abdiel ARROYO, 10.Dimi PETRATOS, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 14.Kaine SHEPPARD, 16.Matt MILLAR, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 19.Kosta PETRATOS, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 23.Matt RIDENTON, 25.Jack SIMMONS, 28.Pat LANGLOIS, 29.Connor O’TOOLE, 32.Angus THURGATE, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY (2-4 to be omitted)
Ins: 8.Wes HOOLAHAN (promoted), 23.Matt RIDENTON (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI (quad – 3-5 weeks), 22.Lachlan JACKSON (knee – indefinite), 40.Noah JAMES (hand – 3 months)
