Newcastle Jets Head Coach Mark Jones has named his first provisional squad of the season ahead of this Sunday’s Hyundai A-League opener against Adelaide United at Hunter Stadium.
There is an unfortunate omission for the Jets in round 1, with experienced custodian Ben Kennedy missing out on selection due to an injury to his Achilles tendon.
In Kennedy’s place, the Club has signed 18-year-old custodian Pierce Clark who is a member of the Jets’ youth program.
Clark is set to sit on the bench behind Jack Duncan who will assume the role in goal.
The Jets are otherwise looking at full strength for round 1 – foreign recruits Aleksandr Kokko and Wayne Brown have both been named, while there is a possible return to action for Labinot Haliti who has trained strongly and overcome an injury to his ACL suffered early last season.
Ivan Vujica, who has spent time ill during the pre-season, has also been selected in Jones’ provisional squad – could Vujica feature in the first team despite not playing in the pre-season?
Newcastle Jets Squad vs. Adelaide United: 2. Daniel MULLEN, 3. Jason HOFFMAN, 4. Nigel BOOGAARD (C), 5. Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 7. Andrew HOOLE, 8. Mateo POLJAK, 9. Aleksandr KOKKO, 10. Wayne BROWN, 11. Labinot HALITI, 13. Ivan VUJICA, 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 16. Nicholas COWBURN, 19. Morten NORDSTRAND, 20. Jack DUNCAN (gk), 22. Lachlan JACKSON, 23. Devante CLUT, 30. Pierce CLARK (gk) **two to be omitted**
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 1. Ben KENNEDY (gk) (injury – indefinite), 21. Daniel Alessi (knee – season)
Newcastle Jets vs. Adelaide United – Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Season Round 1
Date: Sunday 9 October 2016
Venue: Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-off: 5pm
Tickets: Please click here to purchase match tickets
Television: The match will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Radio: The match will be called LIVE on ABC Newcastle
Social Media: Join the match conversation using #NEWvADL and #TogetherWeCanSoar
