Newcastle Jets coach Gary van Egmond said he is not concerned by his side’s poor start to the 2013-14 A-League campaign.
Newcastle Jets coach Gary van Egmond said he is not concerned by his side’s poor start to the 2013-14 A-League campaign, as they prepare to take on the Wellington Phoenix on Sunday.
The Jets are the only team yet to score through two matches this season, losing to Sydney FC on the season’s opening day 2-0 before playing out a lacklustre 0-0 stalemate with Perth Glory at home in round two.
Van Egmond, though, is confident they can kick-start their floundering campaign and open their goal-scoring account by recalling the memory of their drought-breaking win in February – their first on NZ soil since September 2007.
“It’s always a tough ask to go over to New Zealand, but we’re buoyed by the last time we played there,” van Egmond said on Friday.
“We got a good result and as far as our preparation goes, we’ll try to keep it as similar to that as possible.”
Van Egmond said changes would be made to the side that were held by Perth last weekend, with more youth to be blooded for their first appearances this season.
“Ben Kantarovski has been doing well in training,” van Egmond said of the 20-year-old midfielder.
“There is a lot of competition in that midfield, but there is every chance he will get plenty of game time.
“Andrew Hoole will come in on that right side. He’s been doing particularly well in training and he was a probably a bit stiff not being selected in the squad earlier than this.
“He’s been showing really, really good form and we’re very happy with Andrew, so now he’s got his chance.”
Defender Hoole, 20, made eight appearances for the Jets last season, and spent part of the off-season on duty with the Australia team at the Under-20 World Cup – appearing in all three group games in Turkey.
Hoole linked up with club team-mates Adam Taggart, Connor Chapman and Josh Brillante at the tournament.
