JETS keeper Lewis Italiano has been waiting for this opportunity.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A No.2 for the majority of his A-League career, the 28-year-old is ready to jump at an instant.
After biding his time for the opening 13 weeks, Italiano was pitched into action after Glen Moss strained his calf midway through the second half of the 2-1 loss to Sydney.
With Moss expected to miss at least a month, Italiano will have a stretch of games to impress, starting with a trip to Melbourne City on Saturday.
"I still prep the same whether I'm starting or on the bench," Italiano said. "You have look at the opposition team, how they play and where they are likely to attack. Those sorts of things.
"The only difference is you have more of a warm-up before you play the game.
"It's good that I have a block of games rather than one game here and one game there.
"It is tough when you step in as a goalkeeper and try and do a job for one game. I will try and do my best for the team and help us get back to winning ways."
Moss, a veteran of 249 A-League appearances, turns 37 on Sunday.
The former Kiwi international intends to play on next year, but when he does call it quits, Italiano wants to ensure the Jets don't need to look elsewhere for a replacement.
"I'm definitely keen to make the most of my opportunity," said Italiano, who is off contract at the end of the season. "I need to show that I'm ready to step up and am capable of doing a job. I have made a contribution here and would like to continue on here. Newcastle is a beautiful place. If I can have a good run of games it would be great."
Italiano didn't have a great deal to do in the second half against Sydney. He was solid in his five-game stint last season and caretaker coach Craig Deans has been impressed by his shot-stopping.
"Lewis will come in and I have absolute faith in him," Deans said. "I have watched him in a couple of youth team games and he has been very, very good. He is probably thinking he deserves a chance and he has one now."
Striker Kaine Sheppard pushed his claims for a recall to the starting side with a well-taken brace in the Jets' 3-2 loss to Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG at Central Coast Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Jets, which consisted of fringe and youth team players, led twice against a Shanghai side led by Brazilian international Hulk
"Kaine Sheppard scored two great goals," Jets chief executive Lawrie McKinna said. "The first one was a great strike from the edge of the box and the second one was a fantastic header. He was up like a salmon and put it in the far corner.
"Shanghai had a lot of possession but we created other chances as well. They had quite a few chances in the second half and Noah James pulled off a couple of good saves but we finished strongly. It was decent effort by the young boys."
