After a whirlwind six months, Andrew Hoole returned to more familiar surroundings as he returned for the Newcastle Jets in a pre-season trial.
After a whirlwind six months, Andrew Hoole returned to more familiar surroundings as he lined up for his Hyundai A-League side in a pre-season trial as the Newcastle Jets knocked off an NBN State League Select side 3-0.
It was on the local fields of the NBN State League where Hoole-s rapid rise began after his eye-catching performances for Broadmeadow Magic saw him snapped up by the Newcastle Jets Youth team ahead of the 2011/12 National Youth League (NYL) season.
After winning back-to-back National Youth League Player of the Year awards with the Jets, Hoole was called up to make his A-League debut against Brisbane Roar in Round 16 last season.
A week later, the 19-year-old has signed his first professional contract with the Jets.
A call-up to the Young Socceroos squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup followed shortly after, with the fullback/winger featuring in each of Australia-s matches at the tournament.
After impressing for the Young Socceroos, Hoole was brought into Holger Osieck-s Socceroos training squad for the EAFF East Asian Cup in Korea Republic.
His first national team cap at senior level could have followed had it not been for an untimely knee injury which kept him from travelling with the Socceroos to the tournament.
“It was a great experience to be in that sort of environment with the national team,” Hoole explained.
“Getting injured wasn-t what I was hoping for, I was hoping to head over to Korea with the rest of the team.
“That-s just part of the game, you have to deal with those injures and make sure you come back stronger from them.
“It was a big three months for me, everything happened so quickly, now I-m back here at the Jets I-ve just got to focus on doing as well as I can for the club.”
Hoole said it was nice to be back in Newcastle amongst his Jets teammates after spending so much time away on international duty.
“I-ve been away for quite a while, so to come back into the Jets environment and get a game under my belt with this group of players was pleasing,” he said.
“It-s a bit of a new system that Gary has us playing, so it-s going to take a little bit of time for everyone to gel and get used to the system, but I think the more games we play, the better we-ll become.”
Hoole looks set to feature prominently as a right wingback in the Jets- new 3-4-3 system and the Young Socceroo says it is a role he feels comfortable with.
“I enjoy that role, because it gives you a little bit of freedom. Obviously on the defensive side of things you have to work hard, but I enjoy that as well,” Hoole said.
“It-s a bit of a different role for myself, but one I-m looking forward to playing in more.”
