Wellington coach Gemma Lewis has turned the heat on Newcastle as the A-League Women’s newcomers prepare to face the Jets in a homecoming for Matildas star Emily van Egmond.
The Phoenix fought out a gritty 0-0 draw in their debut match against Western Sydney Wanderers last week.
Newcastle are coming off an opening 3-1 defeat to Sydney FC, in a game in which Tiana Jaber was shown a red card.
But the Jets were able to secure van Egmond on a short-term contract as she gears up for Australia’s Asian Cup campaign in January.
Lewis is more than happy for the Phoenix to claim underdog status for Friday’s game at McDonald Jones Stadium.
“She’s (van Egmond) a world-class player,” Lewis told reporters.
“It definitely gives them (the Jets) a lot more confidence going in.
“She’s a bit more of a threat, attacking wise, and she’s a unit up against us some of our players.
“It doesn’t change anything going in for our players because they knew they were going to be the underdogs and knew the players they were playing against were going to be more experienced and technically seen as better players.
“They’ve not really got anything to lose.
“(Van Egmond’s) expected to do well, and some of our girls are maybe expected to be run over by them, but if they don’t then they’re the ones that end up looking good.”
