The Newcastle Jets will be boosted by the likely return of inspirational skipper Ljubo Milicevic from injury for Saturday night’s Hyundai A-League clash against the North Queensland Fury in Townsville.
Milicevic has made a sooner-than-expected recovery from an ankle injury he sustained in the 1-1 draw with the Central Coast Mariners 10 days ago and made it through a full training session with the Jets on Thursday.
Medical staff will determine whether the key defender will play but at this stage he looks likely to be named in the starting line-up.
“I am feeling good and every day I am just feeling sharper and sharper,” Milicevic told Sportal.
Milicevic acknowledged the Fury were in good form and would be confident after their mid-week upset win over the Gold Coast but said his Jets side was capable of registering their first away win of the season.
“Every game we go into we think we should win. There has been anyone who has really outplayed us,” he said.
“Their coach has got them playing well, they have got a really good rhythm and they look like they enjoy playing together. But it is reality important that we beat them.”
“These are the games that we have to win if we want to climb that ladder.”
Meanwhile, English import Francis Jeffers (groin) and key midfielder Ben Kantarovski (hamstring) were also racing the clock to overcome their injuries for the crucial match.
The pair trained on Thursday but both would have to pass medical tests before coach Branko Culina will decide whether to rush them back into the game against the Fury, bearing in mind the Jets have to travel to Melbourne to take on the Heart on Wednesday night.
However, Jet goalkeeper Ben Kennedy has definitely been ruled out of Saturday night’s game with a knee injury and will stay in Newcastle. Matthew Nash, who made his debut for the club in last Saturday’s 2-1 win over the LA Galaxy will start his first ever Hyundai A-League match for the Jets.
