ANGUS Thurgate is coming off a breakout A-League season in which the midfielder started in all but one game for the Newcastle Jets.
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But the 23-year-old midfielder has wiped the slate clean under new coach Arthur Papas.
"Everyone has something to prove, whether they are 35 or 21," Thurgate said.
"Everyone is out there putting their best foot forward. It is about learning how the boss wants to play and working hard every day to make sure we are moving in the right direction as a team.
"There are individual aspects you need to work on. We have great staff here who are always looking and studying video analysis. They are not shy to give you bits of advice. No-one is a finished product.
"Everyone is trying to learn and grow. The boss has had a chat about pushing me to that next level, adding goals to my game, which I have known I have needed to do for a while. "
Thurgate scored just one goal last season, but was deployed mainly in a deeper role alongside Steve Ugarkovic.
"I have been working on positioning on the field, whether it is late runs into the box or getting myself in and around the box at the right time," he said. "Knowing how we are going to play and where to look for the ball is a thing we are working on tirelessly.
"The style the boss wants us to play is It is very up-tempo and quick. It should be exciting for the fans.
"We have a fairly long pre-season and by the time round one comes along we should be hitting the ground running, knowing exactly how we want to play and being a very fit team."
The Jets are a month into pre-season. They have played two modified intraclub games against the youth team.
However, the FFA Cup qualifier against Western United and trials against local clubs Edgeworth and Broadmeadow have been postponed due to CIVID-19 restrictions.
They have a COVID plan to enable the squad to train as a group during the lockdown but it may be some time before they play friendlies. The competition is set to start on October 30.
"There is nothing like playing a game for your fitness levels and getting your sharpness back," Thurgate said. "In saying that, training has been very intense. It is not lacking in that department."
James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
