JETS coach Ernie Merrick will keep faith in teenagers Pat Langlois and Angus Thurgate as well as promote Northern Ireland under-21 international Bobby Burns for the crunch game against Brisbane Roar at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Rather than change personnel, Merrick insists preparation is the key after an arduous trip to Perth, where the players were "dead on their feet" in the second half and surrendered 6-2.
"We flew in the night before the game," Merrick said. "We arrived at 11 o'clock at night, Newcastle time, after 10 and a half hours travel door-to-door. To be honest, the boys were very tired. Most of them woke at about 4am because they were still on Newcastle time."
In past seasons, the Jets have travelled two days before the match.
"I felt they gave everything they could. I praised them for their effort," Merrick said. "Pat Langlois was the best player on the park for both teams for passes. He made 73 passes for 88 per cent success. I have no qualms about playing youngsters, Newcastle boys, who have a long term future-here. Whilst we have four players out, three key starting players, I will give these youngsters a go. I won't take a backward step from that.
"I was really pleased to see Pat Langlois play so well and he and Angus will be starting again. I will be sticking with most of the players. At this club everyone gets an opportunity and Bobby will come in at left back. He is buzzing and ready to go. I praised him for his patience. We will probably have Jack Simmons, the 17 year-old, on the bench this weekend."
Skipper Nigel Boogaard (groin) and attacking duo Abdiel Arroyo (hamstring) and Wes Hoolahan (ankle) remain on the sidelines. Boogaard hopes to be back in a couple of weeks but the imports face longer out.
Merrick has explored bringing in a player but would prefer to give young players an opportunity.
"Until we get Wes Hoolahan back, Arroyo and Nigel back, we are going to struggle," he said. "But I'm not going to sign a player who is an older, journeyman-type player who has been around a bit. I'm going to give these youngsters a run.
"When we get our players back, it will be a bit like Victory, once we have better quality players and tough games, you can do quite well."
Merrick said the squad had put the Perth result - the club's second worst defeat in history - behind them.
"I don't even review a game like that," the coach said. "I just say, 'boys we did our best'. We need to work on it and grow from it. I understand the frustration of the fans and we are doing everything we can to win.
"I'm not making excuses for the players but this is how it is. We are doing it tough but the attitude is great, the training has been great and they never give up at any stage."
Meanwhile, the Jets home game against Victory on February 22 has been pushed back from 5pm to 7.30pm. In another change to the draw, the Jets' away game against Sydney FC's in round 28 has been moved to Thursday, April 16 at 7pm.
