DANE Ingham helped New Zealand to a historic quarter-final berth at the Tokyo Olympics and Newcastle Jets coach Arthur Papas believes the utility's athleticism will add another dimension to his A-League squad.
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Ingham completed 14 days quarantine in New Zealand on the weekend. He will spend a couple of days with family before joining the Jets later this week.
"He has been following a [training] program in quarantine, but he has also been through a full Olympic campaign," Papas said.
"He has kept going through a period where everyone else was on a break. He played matches and did extremely well. He needs to freshen up if anything."
Ingham was deployed mainly at right back for the Kiwis, but played a variety of roles in 21 A-League appearances for Perth last season.
"Dane is quite versatile," Papas said. "He can play right back, he can play on the left and he can even play up high on either wing because he is very quick.
"He gives us that versatility. He is a fantastic athlete and I'm looking forward to working with him."
In Tokyo, Ingham 22, started in New Zealand's 1-0 win over a highly-rated South Korea and the 4-3 loss to Honduras.
He played off the bench, playing 45 minutes, in the scoreless draw with Romania - a result which sealed progression to the top eight.
In the quarter-final against Japan, which New Zealand lost 4-2 on penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes, Ingham again contributed off the bench, playing 41 minutes.
"He started early on and then he had some roles to play off the bench as well," Papas said. "They did very well in the tournament."
Joe Champness also played a key role for the New Zealand but it is unclear if the winger will join the Jets, despite having a year to run on his contract.
Champness wants to stay at Brisbane, where he spent last season on loan, and is in talks with Jets executive chairman Shane Mattiske.
After a three-day break last week, the Jets have begun the second block of their pre-season.
Four players remain in isolation after last week visiting an identified COVID case location.
Papas said the second phase of pre-season would be similar to the first.
"It is about improving the way we want to play," he said. "We get fit by playing the way we want to play. That is all part of the process.
"It will always be the same thing; keep improving our relationships on the field, the dynamic we want to have off the field as well. How we are operating and our training culture. They are emphasised every day."
James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
