Versatile Jets midfielder Josh Brillante has given his club a boost ahead of their crucial clash with the Brisbane Roar on Friday night by agreeing to a contract extension until the end of the 2014/15 season.
Versatile Jets midfielder Josh Brillante has given his club a boost ahead of their crucial clash with the Brisbane Roar on Friday night by agreeing to a contract extension until the end of the 2014/15 season.
The 19-year-old has been a revelation for the Jets this year, playing in 16 games and starting 11 of those, moving between the midfield and defence with equal effectiveness.
“I like the direction the club is going and I want to continue playing at the Jets,” Brillante said.
“I certainly didn’t expect the opportunities afforded to me this season but I am obviously pleased to have played as much as I have.
“I have exceeded my own expectations and we are just looking forward to finishing off the season strongly.”
Sealing the extension is a shrewd move by the club as Brillante is on track to show his wares at the upcoming FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Turkey this June and July.
Should he attract interest from overseas clubs, the Jets will be in a strong bargaining position with regard to a possible transfer fee.
Meanwhile, Jets skipper Ruben Zadkovich has warned his side they cannot take the two-time defending premiers lightly in Friday night’s encounter at Hunter Stadium, despite the Roar having lost that aura of invincibility they once enjoyed.
“They’ve still got some core players like (Besart) Berisha and (Thomas) Broich that were there during that unbeaten streak they had and their back-to-back grand final wins,” Zadkovich said at training on Thursday.
“You never write off a team when they have players like that and history like that.
“We know they’re a quality side and I think the ladder is a little bit deceiving in terms of separating teams because on any day I think anyone can beat anyone.
“It’s a massive game. They’re directly behind us on the ladder and it’s going to be a huge one.”
