A SELF-confessed late bloomer, Jason Hoffman is adamant the best is yet to come for the home-grown striker and the Jets.
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Hoffman put pen to paper on a two-year extension on Thursday declaring: "It was the worst kept secret in football that I wanted to stay in Newcastle."
Why would he want to depart?
Since returning home in 2015 - and especially in the past three seasons under Ernie Merrick - Hoffman has played his best football.
The spike in form has coincided with a switch from right fullback to a more attacking role.
"I definitely think I have improved," he said. "People say that some players are late bloomers. I feel like I have been one of those players. It was a pretty difficult start to my career and adjusting mentally to becoming a regular starting XI player.
"Being more mature and becoming a father I think has helped me. You have the off button when you go home. You are not consumed by football. Then when you do come to training you appreciate it a lot more and are more relaxed.
"I started my football as a striker and went through the Australian youth set up as a striker. Often it's a position where if you don't score goals, people suggest you should try a different role.
"For me, it's a position that comes naturally. In the first season under Ernie, to have a bit of a breakout year in front of goal and score a few, cemented that I feel comfortable there.
"I take confidence out of the past couple of years, but, for me, it is all about what's ahead."
Next for Hoffman and the Jets are Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Sunday.
Teenager Angus Thurgate comes in for Panamanian striker Abdiel Arroyo, who faces a month out after suffering a grade-two tear to his hamstring.
Thurgate has scored a goal in each of the past two wins over Western United (1-0) and Western Sydney (2-0) and Hoffman has no doubts the 19-year-old will fire.
"Gus has shown he is up to it," Hoffman said. "When he started against Western United, he caused them headaches, not only with his goal, but his movement.
"Coming off the bench against Wanderers, he had a fantastic impact.
"He has been around the club for a while now and understands exactly how Ernie wants to play the game.
"To have smart footballers in the front third like Dimi, Nick and Angus, we can rotate. When play breaks down, everyone knows the role. If you end up in the middle or out wide, with or without the ball, everyone is capable."
The Jets gave up a 1-0 lead to go down 2-1 to the Reds at home in round three.
That followed a 1-0 defeat in the FFA Cup quarter-final in which the Jets played 80 minutes with 10 men.
"People say that Adelaide are a bit of a bogey side for us, but I'm more than confident we have we a squad to get a result," Hoffman said. "First and foremost, the performance has to be good. I'm confident it will and that will be enough to get three points."
Hoffman is the only player to feature in the Jets two grand final appearances - winning in 20018 and going down to Melbourne Victory a decade later.
"I was there in 2008 when we won the league and got a taste of what it means to be a champion in the A-League," said. That was an extremely proud moment.
"For me, 2018 was bitter sweet. We had such a great year and you still have that little bit of a feeling that we were robbed.
"We definitely have unfinished business."
