Steve Ugarkovic made an instant impact off the bench to score a fantastic equaliser for the Jets as they fought back to steal a 2-2 draw with Macarthur on Sunday evening.
Ugarkovic placed the ball neatly in the top left corner from outside the box 10 minutes after halftime.
The goal comes with impeccable timing, after Ugarkovic had been sidelined for the past three weeks with a back injury.
“It’s great for the team and the Club and it’s nice for Stevie,” Coach Craig Deans said.
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“He’s capable of things like that on a regular basis so we push him to be a bit more aggressive with the ball, to be a bit more attack minded.”
It wasn’t just the goal, Ugarkovic was a stonewall in midfield.
Deans admitted his performance has forced his hand and will bring him back into the starting line-up for Newcastle’s clash with Western United in a week’s time.
“Yeah, I have to pick him now, don’t I?,” Deans proclaimed.
“You can’t come out and contribute to the game and not get rewarded, as long as he is fit, he will come back into the team.”
With the youthful midfield of the Jets on the up, the injection of experience in the form of Ugarkovic will take them to another level and free up the likes of Luka Prso and Ramy Najjarine.
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Despite a run of injuries, Deans has some tough decisions to make in the midfield, which is a welcomed headache.
“We’re probably lucky at the moment, there is fierce competition for spots,” Deans said.
The Jets have now secured back-to-back draws and will look to build on that as they head to Victoria for two consecutive games.
