ANGUS Thurgate has learnt not to take anything for granted.
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It's why the 20-year-old Jets midfielder is pushing harder than ever at pre-season training.
Thurgate, a hole filler early in his A-League career, played the final nine games of last season in his preferred position as a number eight.
With every start, his confidence grew as did his contribution during the Jets' golden run under coach Carl Robinson.
"I definitely felt more comfortable in the position I grew up playing," Thurgate said. "It was good to get a good run of games under Carl in the midfield. I never really had a string of games there before. I had been chopped around in different positions.
"As a young player, if that was the way I was going to get game time, I was willing to do that.
"I enjoyed playing in the midfield. I got a bit of confidence and felt like I had role to play and needed to put in consistent performances week-in, week-out.
"I'd like to pick up where I left off. I've just got to keep working hard at training and continue to improve."
Thurgate's progress didn't go unnoticed.
He was one of four Jets alongside Johnny Koutroumbis, Connor O'Toole and Ramy Najjarine named in an Olyroos squad for a camp in Sydney starting next week.
O'Connor and Najjarine were apart of the squad which beat Uzbekistan 1-0 to finish third at the under-23 Asian championships in January and secure a place at the Tokyo Olympics, which has been postponed until July 2021.
Thurgate's last involvement in the squad was a camp in Qatar a year ago.
"I had a strong end to the season and put my name back in the picture," Thurgate said. "It would be a dream to go to the Olympics.
"It is a long way off yet, given the squad and quality of players. I'd be silly not to be pushing hard and working towards it."
While in camp, the Olyroos will play friendlies against Sydney FC next Thursday and A-League new boys Macarthur (November 17). Both games are at Jubilee Stadium.
The Jets have only been back track training for a week. Robinson has departed to Western Sydney and a new head coach won't be appointed until the ownership is finalised, which is likely to be two weeks away.
"I've come back [to training] in relatively good shape," Thurgate said. "It is always a long off-season break. You do two weeks of nothing and then you are back in the swing of things with [off-season] programs.
"The standards at training so far have been great. Even without having a head coach, we have taken to pre-season training really well.
"Everyone wants to win. You come to training and if you play a mini game and if you are losing, the boys are filthy. That is our competitive nature. We always want to win and keep improving.
"Craig Deans and Daniel McBreen's job is to get us into the best shape so when the new coach comes in, he doesn't have to worry about getting is up to speed. He can just work on tactical stuff."
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James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
