Newcastle Jets’ winger James Virgili has warned the rest of the A-League that his side’s attention is focused solely on grabbing a top six spot, after claiming their first win of the season against Adelaide United last Friday night.
Newcastle Jets’ midfielder, James Virgili has warned the rest of the A-League that his side’s attention is focused solely on grabbing a top six spot, after claiming their first win of the season against Adelaide United last Friday night.
The win could prove season changing, with the Jets’ confidence levels running high and looking like a very different team to the one that had many pundits writing their season off only weeks ago.
Now the Jets sit only five points outside the top six, and on the back of a string of good performances, Virgili wants his side to build some momentum and capitalise on this confidence.
“All the boys are pumped,” said Virgili.
“It’s been a while, each week that we haven’t got the points you come to training thinking, ‘aww again and again,’ but now that we’ve got the points the boys are really excited for next week.
“Hopefully now we can keep on going and get a few more because a few of the teams that are just above us got points so we have to keep going and keep up with them to push for that top six.”
Virgili caused havoc on the right wing on Friday night, constantly taking his man on and was instrumental to the Jets win in only his second start this season.
With several key players missing – such as captain, Kew Jaliens – manager Phil Stubbins opted for a more unorthodox 3-4-3 formation, playing Virgili at the foreign rightwingback position, a challenge the 22-year-old relished.
“I had to get back a lot more, but I was quite comfortable there and I’ll play there each week if I can, so I’m quite happy to do that job there and (Scott Neville) will help us out a lot, he talks to us the whole time…so having him there helps a lot.”
What makes this performance perhaps more impressive is the self-assurance portrayed by a man that has constantly been in between the Jets’ A-League and National Youth League squads for several seasons, a trait Virgili puts down to his ‘nothing to lose’ mindset.
“Since I’ve been here I haven’t really been in the first team the whole time,” said Virgili.
“I haven’t gone three or four game on the trot, so now I’d really like to do that.
“Because I haven’t played for a while, I just thought ‘I’m out here now, I’ve got my chance,’ so I just threw every thing I had and did everything I could and it came off.”
The match highlighted Virgili’s potential and with only six months remaining on his contract with the Newcastle Jets, the winger is determined to show more of what he has to offer.
“It’s a good time to be playing now. In that last six months of that contract I really want to have a crack and make the best of that opportunity.”
