Talented 21-year-old defender Lachlan Jackson is set to remain with Newcastle Jets until 2019 after he penned a two-season contract extension with the club this week.
Jackson, who joined the Jets ahead of the Hyundai A-League 2015/16 campaign, has played 22 times for Newcastle since arriving in the Hunter Valley from Brisbane Roar.
Previously off contract at the completion of the current Hyundai A-League campaign, Jackson has extended his stay with the Jets with a view to becoming a regular member of the Club’s first eleven in the coming years.
The former Queensland Academy of Sport man said that he feels he has improved since linking with Newcastle in July 2015, but is sure his best is still to come.
“Newcastle is the perfect place to establish yourself in the (Hyundai) A-League,” Jackson said. “Hopefully I can get more games here over the next two years and then move on to even bigger things.”
“I am loving the football in Newcastle and the lifestyle is also good, but I am here to play football so signing for another two years is something I am buzzing about.”
“At training they (the Club’s coaches) are always in my ear giving me pieces of advice. So if I can get another two years of that, that will be very good.”
Jackson also believes spending longer alongside Jets captain Nigel Boogaard both on and off the pitch will benefit his game and career trajectory.
“It’s great learning the ropes from him,” Jackson added. “He is one of the best defenders in the competition, so I try to follow what he does and mirror his professionalism on and off the pitch.”
Newcastle Jets Head Coach Mark Jones described Jackson as a player with “enormous potential”.
“Left-sided centre-backs are rare,” Jones explained. “Lachlan is tall, has lovely feet, and he is quick, so I see him going a long, long way in the game.”
“He (Jackson) has enormous potential and you saw on the weekend (against Brisbane Roar) what he can do. I thought he was the best player on the field.”
“For me Lachlan is someone who very soon could step up to being an Olyroo. He is good enough to do that and I expect him to play an important and regular role in defence for us for the rest of the season,” he said.
