"The main thing he said to all the boys in the Olyroos was to get as much game time as possible," Najjarine said. "You can't be going into camp without any game time."

The Olyroos had squeezed past Uzbekistan 1-0 to finish third at the Asian under-23 Championships in January and seal a trip to the Tokyo Olympics. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the postponement of the Tokyo Games to July next year.

But Arnold's message hasn't changed.

Najjarine started for the Olyroos against Uzbekistan, but after making just nine appearances, including two starts, for Melbourne City last A-League season, the fleet-footed attacker looked for more opportunities elsewhere.

He had a year left on a scholarship deal at City but they agreed to loan the 20-year-old to the Jets.

"Newcastle were very interested,"Najjarine said. "Football is about opportunities and I think this is the right move me. I really want to push for a starting position here and help the club have some success."

The Olyroos go into camp in Sydney from November 9-17. Najjarine will be one of four Jets involved along with Connor O'Toole, Johnny Koutroumbis and Angus Thurgate.

The left footer has been sharp in the first week of pre-season with the Jets.

"It has only been three days in training and I am starting to know the players' strengths and work with them," he said.

Since Najjarine agreed to the loan deal at the Jets, Dimi Petratos and Nick Fitzgerald have been sold and coach Carl Robinson departed for Western Sydney.

Instead of playing alongside Petratos, Najjarine is the front-runner for his spot.

"It was a bit of a surprise," Najjarine said. "I was excited to join Dimi. I guess that is football. Coaches come and go, players come and go. At the end of the day, it's up to the individual how they perform on the pitch.

"The Jets have a very attacking and exciting style of play. I think the club philosophy will blend in well with the players we have here.

"I enjoy playing anywhere across the front three and feel pretty comfortable running at players."

Meanwhile, Jack Duncan has started training with the Jets and chief executive Lawrie McKinna hasn't ruled out making a play for the out-of-contract keeper.

Duncan made his A-League debut for the Jets in 2011 and played 45 games for the club during two stints. The 27-year-old has spent two years in Saudi Arabia at Al-Qadsiah, where he made 57 appearances, parted ways after they were relegated.

Lewis Italiano is the only senior goalkeeper on the Jets books, but McKinna said they wouldn't be in a position to make Duncan an offer until the ownership and coaching situations were finalised.

Duncan told the Herald that he was simply training with Jets to stay fit and was non committal when asked if he was interested in a return to the A-League.

In other contract news, the Jets have agreed to loan Joe Champness to Brisbane for a season.

The silken-skilled winger agreed to a two-year extension with the Jets before jetting off to Los Angeles 14-months ago to pursue a hip-hop career but has been training with the Roar for the past week.

Part of the loan deal, is that Champness won't be able to play against the Jets.

"Joe is back living at home and wants to be near his family," Mckinna said. "He hasn't played football for more than 18 months. He won't be able to play against us.

"He has a another year with is after this season. Once the A-League is run independently there might be an opportunity for transfers between clubs."

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