Grozos had come through the Western Sydney Wanderers academy, captained the club to a national youth title in 2018 and earned the prized No.10 shirt for the Young Socceroos (under-20s).

The creative spark made his senior debut in the FFA Cup in 2018 and two days after featuring in the semi-final was rewarded with a two year contract - his first professional deal.

Opportunities for rising Australian No.10s are few in the A-League. At Wanderers, Grozos was behind the likes of Germans Alex Baumjohann and Nicola Muller and Socceroo James Troisi. In two years he made eight appearances for a total of 162 minutes.

Papas' right hand man, Arthur Diles, had coached Grozos in the Wanderers youth team, but the new Jets boss wanted to see Grozos first hand.

Grozos was on deck for the Jets' first day of pre-season in July and inked a one-year deal last month.

"I had very good information about Kosta as a footballer and a person," Papas said. "It was about him coming here and making sure he had the right motivation and that he could play the football we want to play.

"You have to prove yourself. I was clear with him on the phone. There was a challenge I set him.

"He has come in and shown me the things that I was aware he had. I expect big things from him.

"He has a lot of potential and if he keeps working hard and really focuses on the way he wants to develop as a footballer, he is going to have a very good opportunity."

Grozos has had to be patient. But the 21-year-old believes he is ready to make the most of a new opportunity.

"With any trialist, you have to perform," Grozos said. "I focused on myself, made sure I was right and ready and did everything the boss wanted me to do."

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After a stunning youth career, Grozos admitted to finding the lack of game time in the A-League disheartening.

"Sometimes it gets a bit frustrating because I have been there so long," he said. "Now, in a new environment with a new bunch of boys and new coaching staff, this is the right place for me."

Brazilian No.10 Daniel Penha completes quarantine on Saturday and starts training next week.

"I can't for him to arrive to see waht he has got, his experience and everything that he can bring to our team," Grozos said. "You just have to prove that you are the one for the position."

Grozos is among seven players aged 20 or under in the Jets senior squad.

"I don't really get caught up on if they are young or not," Papas said. "It is a matter of who can play the football that we are trying to play consistently.

"When you look at the composition of the squad, we have seven contracted players 20 and under. That is fairly unique. Then you have another eight aged between 21 and 25. We have a core group players - 9 or 10 - in the ages between 26 and 32. It is a healthy squad in terms of that profile.

"We have tried to create a situation where we have two players fighting for each position. That is heathy. Hopefully we can cover situations that occur in the season and we don't have to change the whole way of play or formations because an injury occurs. There is flexibility in the squad, there is youthfulness in the squad and there is the right sprinkling of experience."

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