Newcastle will be hoping fatigue isn’t too much of a factor when they turn out in their fourth match in 12 days against Adelaide on Sunday (kick off 5.00pm AEDT).
The Jets will spend much of the build-up to this one in recovery mode after flying back from Japan after Tuesday night’s AFC Champions League qualifier defeat to Kashima Antlers.
But given their position on the Hyundai A-League ladder, they can ill-afford to go into this clash anything other than full-throttle if they are to keep in touch with the top six.
Last Friday’s gutsy 3-1 win over Melbourne City saw the Hunter club close the gap to six points from themselves and the finals places.
And depending on how City and Wellington Phoenix go on Saturday, the Jets will know if they can edge to within three points by winning this one.
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They are likely to face an Adelaide team keen to bounce back after their shock 3-1 loss at home against Western Sydney Wanderers last time out.
It was an uncharacteristically subdued display from Marco Kurz’s troops, who rarely play two bad games in a row.
The Reds won their last game at McDonald Jones Stadium 2-1, but you have to go back to 2005 since they last won back-to-back games in the Hunter.
And expect Dimitri Petratos and Craig Goodwin to be the go-to men for their respective sides.
The Jets’ Petratos (64) and United’s Goodwin (57) have created more scoring chances than any other players this Hyundai A-League season.
Key Opta stats
- Newcastle Jets have scored five first-half goals in their last three Hyundai A-League games, more than they had scored in their 18 league games prior (4).
- Adelaide United are undefeated in their last three Hyundai A-League games against Newcastle Jets (W2, D1), a period across which there have been a total of 12 goals scored.
- The Jets have made 18 total shots (inc. blocks) per game when playing at home this Hyundai A-League season, more than any other team.
Ins and outs
Newcastle Jets FC Squad: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimi PETRATOS, 8.Jair, 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 14.Kaine SHEPPARD, 16.Nick COWBURN, 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.Matt RIDENTON, 24.Joey CHAMPNESS, 32.Angus THURGATE, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 1.Glen MOSS (promoted), 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (promoted), 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI (promoted), 7.Dimi PETRATOS (promoted), 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI (promoted)
Outs: 28.Pat LANGLOIS (omitted), 29.Jake ADELSON (omitted), 40.Noah JAMES (omitted)
Unavailable: 3.Jason HOFFMAN (ankle – TBC), 10.Ronald VARGAS (hamstring – 3 weeks)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Daniel MARGUŠ (gk), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 4.Ryan STRAIN, 6.Vince LIA, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.Isaías SÁNCHEZ (c), 10.Ken ILSØ, 11.Craig GOODWIN, 14.George BLACKWOOD, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 19.Jordy THOMASSEN, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 22.Michael JAKOBSEN, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 31.Mirko BOLAND, 32.Carlo ARMIENTO, 33.Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 6.Vince LIA (promoted), 33.Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 9.Baba DIAWARA (knee), 17.Nikola MILEUSNIĆ (ankle), 18.Lachlan BROOK (knee), 26.Ben HALLORAN (ankle)
How to watch
Don’t miss this clash at 5:00pm (AEDT) on FOX SPORTS 505, via the MyFootball Live App, or through Kayo Sports.
Tickets
Be there at McDonald Jones Stadium as the Jets face-off against Adelaide by CLICKING HERE to get tickets.
