OLYROOS coach Graham Arnold was full of praise for Jets young guns Angus Thurgate, Connor O'Toole, Johnny Koutroumbis and Ramy Najjarine and believes Newcastle fans have plenty to be excited about.
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The quartet were among the Olyroos' best during a 10-day camp which culminated with a 2-1 win over Macarthur FC at Jubilee Oval on Tuesday.
"Newcastle fans have four great kids there that will be exciting to watch," Arnold said. "The four of them did very well."
Najjarine scored the winner on Tuesday, slotting home from close range after the Bulls failed to clear a Ryan Strain cross, as the national under-23s team came from a goal down to trump the A-League new boys.
Najjarine was on the spot to slot home after Macarthur failed to clear a Ryan Train cross.
The Bulls had gone ahead against the run of play when substitute Liam Rose beat Tom Glover with an angled shot in the 67th minute.
Newcastle-born Melbourne City midfielder Connor Metcalf equalised with a left-foot thunderbolt in the 78th minute.
The win followed a 3-0 loss to Sydney last Thursday in which the Sky Blues scored all three goals inside 15 minutes.
Najjarine started and was dangerous, while Thurgate in particular was strong off the bench in the second half.
Connor O'Toole bombed forward from left back against Macarthur and was heavily involved at both ends of the pitch.
Koutroumbis played off the bench at right centreback in both games.
The 10-day camp was the first of four before Arnold finalises an 18-man squad, which can include three overage players, for the Tokyo Olympics.
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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.
