The Newcastle Jets head to Ballarat this Sunday to take on Western United at Mars Stadium, kicking off at 5pm.
Last week saw the Jets go down 2-0 to Macarthur in Campbelltown, with the two goals scored against the run of play. The Jets were unlucky to not find the back of the net in the match and will be eager to capitlise against Western United on Sunday.
Western United are sitting below the Jets at 11th place, with one point being the difference between the two sides.
Team news: Ins and Outs.
Western United squad: 1. Jamie YOUNG (gk), 4. Leo LACROIX, 5. Dylan PIERIAS, 6. Tomoki IMAI, 7. Tongo DOUMBIA, 8. Lachie WALES, 9. Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 11. Connor PAIN, 19. Josh RISDON, 21. Sebastian PASQUALI, 23. Alessandro DIAMANTI (c), 26. Nicolas MILANOVIC, 27. Jacob TRATT, 31. Adisu BAYEW, 37. Ryan SCOTT (gk) 38. Noah BOTIC, 42. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 44. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 88. Neil KILKENNY, 99. Aleksandar PRIJOVIC
Ins: 9. Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 21. Sebastian PASQUALI (promoted), 31. Adisu BAYEW (promoted)
Outs: 17. Ben GARUCCIO (injured)
Unavailable: 10. Steven LUSTICA (injured), 14. James TROISI (injured)
Newcastle Jets squad: 1. Jack DUNCAN (gk), 2. Dane INGHAM, 3. Jason HOFFMAN, 4. Jordan ELSEY, 5. Matthew JURMAN (co-captain), 6. Brandon O’NEILL (co-captain), 7. Trent BUHAGIAR, 8. Beka DARTSMELIA, 9. Beka MIKELTADZE, 10. Reno PISCOPO, 11. Jaushua SOTIRIO, 14. Mohamed AL-TAAY, 17. Kosta GROZOS, 18. Daniel STYNES, 19. Callum TIMMINS, 20. Michael WEIER (gk), 24. James McGARRY, 25. Carl JENKINSON (co-captain), Archie GOODWIN, 32. Angus THURGATE
Ins: 6. Brandon O’NEILL
Outs: 33. Mark NATTA
Unavailable: 23. Rory JORDAN, 30. Noah JAMES
The battle for the three points will be on this weekend, as both sides will be fighting to grab the win in order to move up on the ladder. With the Jets having won four matches so far this season, and Western United sitting on three wins.
This will be the first time the two sides meet this season, with their meeting last season resulting in a 1-1 draw in May 2022.
Western United have conceded the most goals so far this season with 23 shots landing in goalkeeper Jamie Young’s goals.
One player for the Jets to watch this weekend is Western United’s star striker Aleksandar Prijović. He has scored three goals in six matches that he has played this season and was an instrumental player in United’s championship win last season.
If Newcastle can get a win this weekend, they can shift five places up on the ladder.
The match will be broadcasted live on Paramount+ with kick off at 5pm.
By Daniella Flamiatos
