With five goals in eight A-Leagues games so far this campaign Jets forward Lachie Rose is proving to be one of the signings of the season.
Having overcome the groin injury which saw him miss eight of the club’s first nine league matches, the 25-year-old has hit the ground running in Newcastle and, alongside Japanese import Kota Mizunuma, is propelling Rob Stanton’s side up the ladder.
But where has this form come from and what, or rather who, is helping get the best out of the former Bulls forward?
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Ex-Socceroos winger and Rose’s former Macarthur FC teammate Tommy Oar discussed the forward’s rapid return to form on Total A-Leagues.
“Lachie Rose is smart, because he knows that as soon as he (Kota Mizunuma) gets the ball, he’s aware that he’s going to cross the ball as early as he can, and he makes the run accordingly, knowing that that situation is going to unfold,” he said.
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“So it’s a great little partnership that they’ve got going there.”
When it comes to Japanese winger Mizunuma his stats have so far been scintillating and it’s clearly benefitting the man now leading the Jets’ attack.
Despite largely coming into games as an impact substitute, Mizunuma has registered three assists since making his debut with two of those setting up goals for Rose against Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United respectively.
“I think that’s been kind of one of the keys to why Newcastle has turned their form around,” said Oar when discussing the partnership.
“I think one thing that you can always associate with Lachie Rose is he’s someone who plays with 100% enthusiasm.
“He’s always looking to make runs in behind, and plays with lots of energy. I think that sometimes, particularly when he first broke through at Macarthur, that energy was maybe misplaced a little bit.
“He would maybe choose the wrong run at the wrong moment. But he’s really matured and I think that the thing that he always has had, though, has been goals and a knack for goal scoring.
“He’s always known where to stand, or where the ball is kind of going to drop, whether it’s going to be a scrap in the box.
“He always seems to see – like what Tim Cahill used to do – have that knack for being in the right place at the right time. To see him score these goals, hasn’t surprised me at all to be honest.”
Rose and Mizunuma will be hoping to continue their red-hot form on Friday night when the Jets host Brisbane Roar at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Although sat 11th on the ladder, a win for Newcastle would see them jump up into ninth spot at the expense of rivals Central Coast and would also see them sit just four points outside the top six.
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