The firebrand front-man netted 11 last campaign and hit double figures for a second time with a match-winning header against Western United last round.

Six of this season's haul were wearing the orange of Brisbane Roar before he returned to Newcastle on the final day of the January transfer window.

The Irishman is sitting on 49 A-League goals and would love to join the 50-club in the final game against Wellington at Jubilee Stadium on Thursday.

With a bit of luck, the former Premier League striker would have reached the milestone already.

O'Donovan has hit the post a league-high four times this season.

"If those go in I am up there challenging for the golden boot," O'Donovan said. "That is a goal for me next year. The positive for this year is that I'm one goal away from 50 A-League goals and only a few away from getting into the top 10 of all time."

Fellow Irishman Andy Keogh is 10^th with 55 goals.

O'Donovan has scored his at the rate of 0.48 per game, which is the equal fourth best strike rate alongside Shane Smeltz (92 goals in 190). Bruno Fornaroli (60 in 90) is the most lethal at 0.67.

"I'm almost 50 goals in 102 A-League games, - one in two," O'Donovan said.

O'Donovan has netted four goals in 10 appearances since rejoining the Jets. His return coincided with the arrival of coach Carl Robinson.

Since his appointment, the Jets, who were sitting bottom, have the best record in the league.

"The reason I came back was because I knew the qualities in the dressing room. I didn't see it as a group that was broken," O'Donovan said. "From watching the games on the TV, I felt there were one or two ingredients missing.

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"Carl has brought his own energy and a different coaching voice. With the likes of Joe Ledley coming through the door and Bernie Ibini, that gave the people already in the dressing room that little bit of confidence.

"In football when you have a good attitude and everyone is playing for each other, good things can happen.

"Unfortunately we are a game or two away from where we need to be.

"We gave it our best shot and it would be good to finish against Wellington with a positive result and give the fans a glimmer of what is to come next year."

Wellington sit in third place on 41 points. The Jets have beaten the two teams above them, Melbourne City (2-1) and Sydney (2-1).

"On our day, we are a match for anybody," O'Donovan said. "It would be good to finish on a positive note against a very good Wellington team.

"We need to be wary of their front line. They have a lot of good movement and are a good counter attacking team. The energy we have in midfield with Gus Thurgate and Steve Ugarkovic and the experience at the back, we will be fine. In the final third we need to get our decision-making right and I think we will score goals. We have proved that in the past."

Meanwhile, Andrew Nabbout's second stint with Melbourne Victory will end following Wednesday's season finale against Western Sydney.

Interim coach Grant Brebner confirmed that the Socceroos attacker will be joining Perth Glory at the end of the 2019-20 season.

The 27-year-old has made 21 appearances for Victory in what has been a forgettable campaign for the club, which is languishing second-last on the ladder going into Wednesday's match.

The Glory will be Nabbout's third A-League club having spent just under two years at the Jets between June 2016 and March 2018.

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