Exciting young attacker Radovan Pavicevic will remain with the Newcastle Jets for the next two Hyundai A-League seasons after he inked his first professional contract with the club this week.
Pavicevic, 19, has made an impressive start to life as a Hyundai A-League player, scoring in just his second senior appearance for the men from Hunter Stadium against Brisbane Roar in round 16, before making an impact off the bench in the side’s round 17 draw against Western Sydney Wanderers.
The youngster’s efforts against some of the Hyundai A-League’s elite come despite the former Marconi Stallions junior being considered by the club’s coaching staff to be a long way off his best.
Indeed, just last year Pavicevic fractured his arm while playing for the club’s youth team in the Northern New South Wales National Premier League (NPL).
The injury meant Pavicevic required a plate and 12 screws to be inserted into his arm, and forced him into a lengthy lay-off leading into the current campaign.
Pavicevic said “hard work” was the key to winning a place in the club’s future plans.
“I had to work hard to get through my arm injury and to get back to where I was playing before,” Pavicevic said. “I think I have gone past where I was before, so it feels good to be offered a contract.”
“Every kid wants to grow up and play in front of thousands of people, so it feels good,” he said.
The club’s reigning Foxtel National Youth League Player of the Year added that he wouldn’t have put pen to paper at the Jets unless he thought that the future at the club was bright.
“I wouldn’t have signed if I didn’t think the club wasn’t going anywhere and if I didn’t think it would take me anywhere. You can see from the last couple of games that we have taken a step forward and I think it’s only going to get better,” he added.
Jets Head Coach Phil Stubbins believes Pavicevic has plenty of development left in his game, and wants Newcastle to help him excel.
“It’s always great when one of your own comes through,” Stubbins said in reference to Pavicevic. “He’s done a great job at youth level, and since he was brought into the senior set up five weeks ago he’s adjusted very well.”
“He’s a champion kid with the right attitude, he works hard, he’s a team player, and he’s showing all the traits that you want from a young player coming through your football club.”
“Radovan’s got a long way to go and there is no pressure on him. We want to try and provide an environment that helps him reach his full potental and allows him to go on to bigger and better things,” Stubbins said.
