JACK Duncan and Valentino Yuel are only awaiting a rubber stamp from the club's new owners to confirm they will be part of the Newcastle Jets' 2020-21 A-League campaign.
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What's more, they each shape as key acquisitions.
In a mix of the old and new, both will start at opposite ends of the park as the Jets ramp up preparations for the new season against Macarthur FC at Maitland on Thursday.
Duncan, a 27-year-old former Olyroos keeper, returns after two seasons in Saudia Arabia at Al-Qadsiah.
Yuel, a livewire striker, joins the Jets from Western United, where he made nine appearances last season.
Both have impressed at training in the past three weeks and Jets chief executive Lawrie McKinna expects them to bolster the roster.
"They want to be at the club and we want them here,"McKinna said. "It's a matter of the new owners and coach rubber stamping their contracts."
The drawn-out transfer of ownership from Martin Lee to a new consortium is nearing completion.
Lawyers from both sides are working through the sale and carrying out final due diligence which, barring any hiccups, is expected to be completed by December 13 - 18 days before the Jets open their campaign against arch enemies Central Coast on New Year's Eve.
A new coach won't be appointed until the ownership is finalised.
However, McKinna has been working with the prospective buyers to ensure they are ready to press the button as soon as the sale is signed off.
"Obviously the people who buy the club will have a big say in who will be coach," McKinna said.
"I have been passing on information and they have been speaking to people and carrying out their own research,"McKinna said. "I will give then my opinion but it's up to them."
Arthur Papas, an assistant to former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou at Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, has been strongly linked to the position.
McKinna confirmed Pappas, who spent six month as the Jets youth coach before heading to India in 2012, was among "a number of names put forward" for the position.
"There are a lot of good coaches we have spoken to and will continue to speak to," McKinna said.
Duncan has had two previous stints in Newcastle. He made his A-League debut as an 18-year-old in 2012. He moved to Perth in 2013-14 for two seasons and then returned to Newcastle, where he established himself as the No.1 keeper.
The Sutherland junior had a season to run on his contact when he attracted a lucrative offer from Al-Qadisiah.
"Jack is someone familiar to the club and understands what we are looking for," interim coach Craig Deans said. "He fits in with the group and has a good mentality."
Duncan played off the bench in the 5-0 rout of Edgeworth but will get 90 minutes against the Bulls.
Incumbent No.1 Lewis Italiano, who is on a two-year contract, will be rested.
"Jack didn't have much to do in the Edgeworth game, but in training so far he has been very good," Deans said. "It is going to be a good battle between him and Lewis for the starting position.
"Going overseas matures you as a person as much as anything else. He has obviously worked hard over there. It's not easy to play in some of those Arab leagues.He would have learnt a lot about himself. He has definitely come back strong and is looking sharp."
Yuel, 26, has been equally impressive and will replace Panamanian international Abdiel Arroyo.
"He has speed and runs hard," Deans said. "He is probably a bit more of a technical player than Arroyo and can do some special things.
"Against Edgeowrth, he set up Ramy's first goal. He beat a defender on the by-line and played a nice ball into the back post. He has little things like that.
"He is a little unpredictable and has a great work ethic. He desperately wants to be a footballer and to succeed in the A-League. That is a great place to start. Again it is just a little bit of work with him on the training park to tidy up some areas."
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