PANAMANIAN import Abdiel Arroyo may have relied largely on nods, hand movements and other signals to communicate with his Jets teammates but fellow new arrival Nick Fitzgerald was certain about one thing - "he's a finisher".
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Before Friday, Arroyo, who speaks limited English, had been training away from the group, mainly doing cardio work and testing.
He joined the rest of the squad for a ball-work session and immediately impressed.
The 25-year-old striker looked sharp, glided across the ground and revealed a rocket right foot.
"He can finish," said Fitzgerald when asked about Arroyo. "He offers something different for us. He makes some really good runs in behind. We have some good playmakers in the team in Dimitri (Petratos) and Jason Hoffman to feed him. I think he will score a fair few goals this year. "
Arroyo is likely to make his debut off the bench in the FFA Cup round of 32 showdown at AAMI Park on Wednesday.
However, captain Nigel Boogaard and keeper Glen Moss are highly doubtful for the trip south. Boogaard was given a final clearance by his surgeon on Friday after an arthroscope on his knee in the off-season but is behind in fitness.
Moss has been troubled by bruising on his foot.
Fitzgerald, who spent two seasons at Melbourne City, is eagerly awaiting the knockout fixture.
What's more, he believes hit outs against Edgeworth (1-0) and Western Sydney (2-all) have the Jets well placed.
"The most pleasing thing for us is that we are playing an A-League side," Fitzgerald said. "It will be a great test for us. I know there has been a lot of talk about them being short of numbers, but they have made a couple of key signings. There will obviously be a bit of spice to it with Andrew Nabbout going back there. He was a great player for the Jets. It will be a tough test for us. But if we keep gelling the way that we are and keep playing the football we are playing, we can definitely get a result."
Fitzgerald, who joined this season from Wanderers, started on the right wing in both pre-season friendlies.
He had limited opportunities against a well-drilled, deep-sitting Edgeworth. He found more space against Wanderers, whose fullbacks pushed high up the pitch.
The 27-year-old is hoping to kick start his career in Newcastle after a frustrating season at Wanderers.
"It is a great squad and a great bunch of lads," he said. "For me it's a new club and I have to work hard and prove to Ernie Merrick that I am worthy of being here and can make the starting XI.
"If you look at what Ernie has done in the past with players like Nabbout, and Dimitri. Even Hoffy, he was a fullback the first year Ernie came here and he got up towards 10 goals.
"In saying that I can't just rely on Ernie to work his magic on me. I'm the one who has to do it. I have to take a bit of weight on my shoulders and take some of the pressure off the strikers and score a lot of goals.
"Ernie is working a lot on me getting into the right position to score goals. That is something that has been lacking in my game in recent years - being in the right positions and hitting the back of the net and helping the team out."
