After only debuting for the Jets in March, Brandon Wilson has quickly begun to settle into his new surroundings and as we enter the pointy end of the season, he’s ready to take it to his hometown club as part of our charge for finals.
The 25-year-old made his A-League debut in the purple of Perth back in 2016, and played 62 matches there over two stints.
Having already faced them only a week and a half ago, the midfielder will now welcome the current league-dwellers to his new home looking to right the wrongs of that previous fixture which took a hit to our momentum.
Although admittedly the clash is “a big fixture” for him personally, he made clear where his allegiances lie this Sunday.
“I’m a Newcastle Jets player now through and through,” Wilson said.
“[Perth is] the team that gave me my first first-team break, my hometown…[but] I’m here to win every game with the Jets, it doesn’t matter who we come up against.”
The former Olyroos captain made his first start for the Club in challenging circumstances when we met Sydney with a depleted team, but stepped up to the task.
Having spent time all across the world in places such as Western Australia, England, Finland and New Zealand, Wilson is no stranger to making an instant impact at sides and he’s focused on doing the same here in Newcastle in our push for finals.
“I’m settling in really well,” he said. “I’m starting to learn how the Boss [Papas] wants me to play and the team dynamic.
“I wanted to go somewhere and win something. I wanted to win trophies…I saw what the Boss was doing here at the Jets, I saw how the team was playing, and I could that this is a Club that’s aspiring for big things.
“The minutes have been building and I feel like my performances are getting better…It really suits me here.”
The team experienced a tough week with a trip to Perth and to Brisbane that ended in only one point to their name.
With seven games remaining, the side will spend four of those at home.
Having already experienced the high that the Jets faithful can provide at home, the Burnley Academy product is confident the fans will once again help the side on our run to the post-season.
“It was probably our worst game of the season,” he said of our match with Brisbane.
“We’ve got to learn from that…It was a warning. Maybe we needed it. We’ve got seven games running into the finals and we’re ready to put that right.
“It’s a huge thing when you play at home. You play with a 12th man. You just lift that little bit more.
“With our fans at home, we go out with no nerves, full confidence, going for that three points.”
Wilson and the Jets will take on Perth Glory this Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium, kicking off at 4:05pm.
