Steve Ugarkovic gained valuable experience from his shift to the right wing but the Jets' iron man "feels most comfortable" in the middle of the park.
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Ugarkovic scored with an edge-of-the-box stunner to put the Jets back on level terms after 21 minutes in the unlucky 2-1 defeat to Sydney on Friday night.
The goal was his second in four games - ending a two year drought - and the highlight of a man-of-the match performance.
"It was rewarding to get the goal," Ugarkovic told the Newcastle Herald. "I have been working on staying composed. It was good to see the hard work pay off but I would have traded it for three points."
Ugarkovic, after playing the previous three games pushed forward on the right, reverted to a more familiar role in the centre of the pitch against Sydney.
It was one of two changes made by interim coach Craig Deans, including the return of a fit-again Abdiel Arroyo.
"Breaking into the box late is one of my strengths," said Ugarkovic, who has started in 78 consecutive games for the Jets. "Ernie put me on the right wing in the past few weeks. It was something I needed to learn and adapt to. It's not a bad thing learning a new position and evolving.
"But I feel most comfortable in the middle of the field. It was a different experience getting forward and playing a new role. I thought I did a job there but I feel I am more effective in the middle."
Arroyo started in his first game since suffering a grade-two tear to his hamstring at training in early December.
The Panamanian international only had three sessions back in full training and Deans admitted his inclusion was a "risk".
"I thought he was good," Deans said. "He had been out for six weeks, but it was a risk we had to take. He has been brought here to be an important player for the team, and he showed that he can be very dangerous."
Arroyo helped set up Ugarkovic's goal and could easily have netted two himself. He had a header saved and hit the underside of the crossbar with a shot.
"The header in the first half was not a bad header, but it got to the ground a little bit early, which took the pace out of it," Deans said. "I think he would score the other one 99 times out of 100.
"For his first game in a while, I thought he was good. Just his presence - he is physical, he has some speed, he can run beyond, he can come to feet. We will work with him and keep building."
The Jets will be without Glen Moss for an a month after the keeper suffered a grade-two calf strain.
