Danish midfielder, Jesper Hakansson, will make his much anticipated debut tonight when the Jets take on Melbourne Victory in Round 3 of the Hyundai A-League.
Danish import Jesper Hakansson will see his first action in the Hyundai A-League tonight after overcoming a calf injury which kept the Newcastle Jets midfielder on the sidelines for the first two rounds of the competition.
For the time being, Hakansson is pleased to simply be with his teammates in Melbourne ahead of the team-s Round 3 clash against the Victory this evening.
“It was frustrating,” Hakansson explained. “But now I-m ready and it was only two games I missed so I will look forward to it and I-m ready.”
“I really feel good. It-s always terrible to get injuries, you-re all alone, you know. You see the boys just running around and you just sit there on the sideline. But now I-m back and I-m really one hundred percent,” he said.
Ahead of his much anticipated debut, the diminutive Dane is also aware of the challenge in front of him this season in a Hyundai A-League competition that has impressed him thus far.
“I would say the league is higher than what I thought. What we heard from Europe; you didn-t hear that much about the A-League, to be honest. But I think the league is pretty good and is going up, you can see it. So I really look forward to playing here,” Hakansson said.
The Victory have been labelled one of the favourites to claim Hyundai A-League silverware this season after recruiting well in the off-season. The Jets were on the end of a 1-0 defeat when they took on Melbourne earlier this month in the 2008 Pre-Season Cup, with new signing Tom Pondeljak netting the winner in the 82nd minute. Hakansson liked what he saw from the visitors that day but believes the Jets will have more to give this evening at Telstra Dome.
“They were fit, and I thought they played really well. But still, we had a new team and a lot of players that had to learn each other, you know. But still, I think we have a good chance. We just have to go our own way and just play what we can,” he said.
Hakansson will be joined by his wife and 2 sons this Sunday when they arrive in Australia from Copenhagen. The former SC Heerenveen and RBC Roosendaal man also has extended family in Melbourne who will turn out to see the game tonight and will support the Jets along with a myriad of travelling Novocastrian fans.
“Yeah, they will come and watch. Since I was young I have some family in Melbourne and my dream was always to come to Australia to play. But now I-m here and I-m happy.”
“I really miss my family, that-s true. But I-m here and you have to be professional and just think about the game and after that I can think about my family again. But now it-s more that we have to get the three points and that-s most important,” said Hakansson.
The Newcastle Jets take on Melbourne Victory tonight at Telstra Dome from 8pm (AEST).
The Jets will return home to EnergyAustralia Stadium on Saturday, 13 September when they take on NSW rivals Sydney FC. Tickets for this blockbuster clash are available from www.proticket.com.au, or by calling (02) 4915 2345.
