Jets defender Taylor Regan looks likely to step into the defensive midfielder's role in place of injured skipper Jobe Wheelhouse in Saturday night's Hyundai A-League clash with the Perth Glory at nib Stadium.
Jets defender Taylor Regan looks likely to step into the defensive midfielder's role in place of injured skipper Jobe Wheelhouse in Saturday night's Hyundai A-League clash with the Perth Glory at nib Stadium.
Wheelhouse has been ruled for at least two weeks with a groin strain suffered in Newcastle's 3-0 win over the Heart last weekend and with Kasey Wehrman still on the outer at the Jets and Ben Kantarovski on Olyroos duties, coach Gary van Egmond is looking at playing Regan out of his regular position as a central defender.
Van Egmond spoke recently of Regan's verstaility saying the youngster also has a strong passing game and would be well suited to the midfielder role. Assistant coach Craig Deans also said at team training this week that putting Regan into Wheelhouse's role would be less disruption to a team that has had three straight wins on the back of a stable line-up.
"There are a coule of options. We could bring in Taylor Regan as a straight swap or we could look at Ali Abbas which may disrupt the team a little bit more but we will have a chat about it and we will fine tune things at our last training session in Perth," Deans said.
Newcastle's recent signing, Australian Under 17's skipper Connor Chapman also faces the propect of making his debut in the A-League after he was included in the squad to travel to Perth, while Ryan Griffiths will again be handed the captain's armband in Wheelhouse's absence.
"Connor Chapman is new to the club and has settled in and has shown in the youth team games an during training that he is capable of stepping in if he is needed," Deans said.
"So he will travel and he gives us cover on two or three different positoins which is a handy thing to have, so he is a good chance."
The game shapes up as a crucial match in the run to the finals with fourth hosting fifth. A win to Perth will see them move six points ahead of the Jets and give them a great chance of ensuring a vital home semi-final. A win to the Jets will see them draw level with the Glory in fourth.
However, Deans does not see the result as a do or die scenario.
"Obviously you look at the table to see where you are and to see oportunities where you can move up the table," he said.
"This is one of those opportunities where we can move up and match them with points. If we can do that it will be a nice psychological boost for us but there is still another five or six games to go, so this game is not to the point of do or die.
"We just need to focus on this week's game aqnd keep adding to each week's performance and get better everytime we play.
Deans also stressed there would be no excuses offered desite the fixture at nib Stadium being one of the toughest road trips in the A-League.
"I dont think it is a discussion point," he said.
"The game we have this weekend is an 8pm kick-off and so the heat factor is taken out of the equation.
"We will be there for 36 hours before the game so that is ample time to acclimatise and get oyer the travel. Perth do it every second week and they are sitting fourth on the table so it has not bothered them and I don't see why it should bother us."