Jets happy to fly under the radar

Van Egmond, who is preparing his side for its A-League season-opener against Adelaide United at Hunter Stadium on 7 October, said the media attention on Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC suits him perfectly.

”At the moment the least they talk about us the better,” Van Egmond said.

”We've got plenty of things that are going on around us to worry about.

”So I'd be very comfortable if all the attention is cast on on likes of Broich and Berisha.

”We want our football to be what people want to talk about.

”Hopefully we can do that in the season coming up.

”So we are very happy to fly under the radar.”

Van Egmond, who led the Jets to the championship in 2008, has embarked on a rejuvenation program that is designed to take the club back to the top of the A-League.

He has signed several promising youngsters who should provide him with plenty of options in the coming season.

One of them is former Melbourne Heart left back Craig Goodwin, who left a favourable impression in the handful of matches he played under coach John van't Schip after making his debut against Victory last season.

Goodwin impressed his new coach with a hat-trick in the first 15 minutes of the Jets' 6-0 win over a State League selection in the team's third pre-season trial on Wednesday.

”Craig is coming along well,” Van Egmond said.

”He's a young fellow and like all young players he needs confidence and nurturing.

”He definitely has wonderful ability and it is up to us to bring out those skills.

”He is very good on the ball but we've got to get the best out of him in other areas without the ball, such as his defensive positioning.

”Of course you don't want to heap lavish praise on these kids, we just want them to stay on their feet.

”They need to work hard to improve and if they do that they will be rewarded down the track.”

Popular striker Michael Bridges, with a wealth of experience behind him, will be expected to 'keep an eye' on the younger players in the team.

It is a responsibility Bridges would be only too happy to assume, Van Egmond said.

”Bridgey is great with the young ones,” he said.

”He is always prepared to share the experience he's gained as an English Premier League player especially with our young strikers. He's been great.

”But it's not only Bridgey. The older ones like Tiago Calvano, Ryan Griffiths, Josh Mitchell and Jobe Wheelhouse also have to take up a leadership role, probably more so this season because we have a younger squad.

”The younger players will always look for reinforcement of what they've done from the older ones and seek advice from the when things are not going so well.

”It is very important that we have that balance.”

The way the Jets went about their recruitment drive would suggest that the club is clearly looking towards long-term success.

That sunny afternoon in Sydney when the Jets beat Central Coast Mariners 1-0 to win the 2008 grand final seems light years away.

But Van Egmond, who said the club was close to signing a European striker, said it is not impossible for Newcastle to be champion again.

”I think the players we have and the ones we are recruiting will be more than capable of doing the job in the key positions that are similar to those we had in 2008,” he said.

”The most important part is their sustainability. You need to ensure that while you are planning to be very competitive for this year you also have an eye on what will happen down the track.”