Just a day after their Hyundai A-League compatriots do battle with Brisbane, the youth side will take on Western Sydney in Newcastle.
Set to play in the afternoon sun at Newcastle’s No.2 Sportsground, it’s approaching do-or-die time for a side with ambitions to finish as high as possible.
With three matches remaining in the NYL, the Jets are nine points off top spot but just three separate them and both the Mariners and Sydney FC.
Their last outing was against the Mariners, a day prior to the Hyundai A-League F3 Derby, where two injury-time goals condemned Labi Haliti’s side to defeat.
Prior to that it was a clash with Western Sydney, away in Blacktown, and the league leaders were clinical to beat out the Jets 3-0.
Since then, the Wanderers have beat Canberra and Mariners 4-0 and 2-0 respectively.
Team news
After coming off the bench and scoring a nice goal against the Mariners, in addition to a double put away against them back in Round 3 of the NYL, Cai Tipaldo might fancy his chances of breaking into the starting XI.
Making it hard for him will be Kosta Petratos, who has made the spot leading the line his own this season.
Jake Adelson also played his first 45 minutes in the side’s last match, that 3-1 loss to the Mariners, just prior to Christmas and will look to build with another half of football (or potentially more) under his belt.
Nick Cowburn and Angus Thurgate each missed out on the 16-man squad which took on Brisbane, so each are a chance of playing youth team football on Thursday.
From the coach
“I think it’ll be a good game, these are the games that as a player you want to play. It’s a test, if you look at the last game we played they run away with it in the second half,” coach, Labi Haliti said.
“We’re at No.2 Sportsground for the first time, we’ve had a week off and the boys have been good at training this week, and hopefully we get 2019 off to a good start.
“Adamstown have looked after us well, but moving to No.2 Sportsground is a fresh start. We haven’t played a game there yet this season, and as players they’ll be comfortable and eager to go on and experience a new feel.
“It’s a great pitch and we’re looking forward to the game. There are a few first team boys dropping back in, and depending on who comes in… it’s all the same in terms of commitment, and they’ve been great for our boys, our young squad.
“They come in and add that extra experience, and it’s also good for them to have a run and get competitive minutes into the legs.”
