After a slow and cautious approach to his pre-season training, Archie Goodwin returned to the A-League arena, scoring two goals against Sydney FC a couple of weeks ago, and the youngster is focused on continuing in that vein as the team storms towards the finals.
The 17-year-old managed to score a double in that match – becoming the youngest player in the A-League to ever do so – and has since featured from the bench in recent weeks.
With fellow striker Beka Mikeltadze striving in his forward position, scoring the club’s first hat-trick since 2018 last weekend, the Newcastle academy product is aware he may need to bide his time, but is keen on supporting him and the team in whatever way he can.
“I just want to be part of the squad for the rest of the season and into the finals,” Goodwin said.
“I believe we can make finals. We’ve got the squad to do that and once we get in there, I want to be in the squad and make an impact – whether it’s off the bench or starting. I just want to make an impact for the team.”
After featuring in multiple matches at the back-end of last season, Goodwin faced some new challenges as his body adjusted to the demand of daily, high intensity training.
While admitting that there were frustrations to the careful increase in training he and the coaching undertook, he believed it was essential going forward.
“I had a couple of setbacks during pre-season, with my body just being so young,” he said.
“I had growing pains and my body just wasn’t keeping up with the training load…It was mainly in my knee. I was getting joint soreness…Slowing down and stopping was hurting me.
“We put some things into place that got my body right over time. It took a while, but it’s worth it…I wanted to get my body right.
“As I progressed, it was rewarding to get involved in the sessions more and more, then eventually full training, and then being able to play – it was a great feeling to be back.”
Although still a teenager, Goodwin has his eyes completely turned his attention to his football and helping the team.
He recently made the difficult decision to leave school to continue pursuing his football dream for his hometown club, and is focused on living life as a professional.
“It was a hard decision,” he said. Mum was the one that wanted me to stay, but a lot of the teachers wanted me to put 100% effort into football.
“It’s a one in a lifetime opportunity playing football as your career so I wanted to put all my attention into that and see where it takes me.
“There’s so many ways these days where you can find your way in education and I feel like I can do that.”
Goodwin and the Jets will face off with Melbourne Victory this Saturday night, who have recently undertaken a challenging schedule of games.
This fixture will be their fifth in 12 days, yet the team haven’t conceded defeat in those matches and have begun to find their form as we enter the pointy end of the season.
The Victory might be on a 10-game unbeaten run, but Goodwin is confident our Jets can put an end to their streak to continue our momentum as we charge for the finals.
“They’re obviously a top team,” he said.
“We’ve just got to plat our football and our high intensity, and I feel like at home, we’ll have success.”
WATCH IN FULL
