Ernie Merrick has named his squad for the weekend’s trip to South Australia for the clash with Adelaide United, and there’s one big change.
A hamstring injury at training on Wednesday means that Abdiel Arroyo will not take part in this weekend’s clash with the Reds, with the Club’s medical staff awaiting scan results to assess the severity of the knock.
Ahead of schedule, and just in time, Kaine Sheppard will return to the fold and is a chance of seeing gametime on Sunday night.
The striker has been out of action since injuring his foot in a September pre-season clash with Sydney FC, but his recovery has progressed better than first anticipated and his return to the squad will give Merrick options in the final third.
Named again in the squad, Nigel Boogaard is more likely to provide coaching support from the bench than he is to ply his trade out on the pitch with a groin injury still plaguing our captain.
Newcastle Jets FC Squad: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 2.Bobby BURNS, 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 10.Dimi PETRATOS, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 14.Kaine SHEPPARD, 16.Matt MILLAR, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.Matt RIDENTON, 28.Pat LANGLOIS, 32.Angus THURGATE, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
Ins: 14.Kaine SHEPPARD (return from injury)
Outs: 9.Abdiel ARROYO (hamstring injury), 19.Kosta PETRATOS (omitted)
Unavailable: 8.Wes HOOLAHAN (ankle – indefinite), 9.Abdiel ARROYO (hamstring)
