Livewire left-back Lucas Mauragis admits it's been hard having to "start from the bottom" again and prove himself at the Jets, but he feels ready to do that on the pitch against Sydney FC this weekend.
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Mauragis was a revelation late in a tough campaign for Newcastle last season, starting in the final three games where the Jets grabbed two wins and a draw.
The 20-year-old scored his first A-League goal in the 2-0 win over the Mariners and he gave fans hope for the future with his gut-busting runs and combination with schoolboy striker Archie Goodwin.
However, Mauragis has been out of the picture so far this campaign as the overhauled Jets squad, under new coach Arthur Papas, have started with a 2-1 loss to the Mariners and 2-2 draw with Western Sydney.
Mauragis returned to Jets training only last week after a two-week quarantine following his stint helping the Olyroos qualify in Tajikistan for the under-23 Asian Cup.
He played a full game in one of two warm-up matches against Dubai club sides and again in the second of two qualifiers against Indonesia, which Australia won 3-2 then 1-0.
After finding his feet again at training after quarantine, Mauragis was hoping to return to the Jets line-up on Saturday night at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
"I worked as hard as I could in quarantine," Mauragis said.
"But coming back in to the first week, it took a little toll on my legs, to get them moving again, but I felt really good coming into this week and I feel like I'm ready."
The disrupted preparation came after Mauragis already faced a challenge to keep his starting spot in a far deeper squad this season.
Maugaris conceded it was hard to start again and prove himself to a new coach.
"Obviously because I've been away a period with the international squad, I have to start from the bottom again and prove to the boss I'm capable to be back in that starting 11," he said.
He felt, though, that his first international experience would help him reach the goal.
"It's something that I haven't done before so when I got that call up, it was a very good opportunity for me to take and I think it has improved my CV, and mentally," he said.
"Just that international football, it's cutthroat. You don't get a second chance, so every time you step out on that pitch you have to give it 150 per cent.
"We had to be quality from the start of the first game to the end of the second. Playing international football, you have to be disciplined at all times."
Mauragis impressed last season with his fitness and speed, which appear valuable assets under Papas, who is demanding a high-tempo, possession-based style.
He hoped to get his chance to show that soon.
"I feel like his style is something that fits with me and I feel like whenever I'm called upon or I'm in that role, I can suit it well," Mauragis said.
"I haven't touched on much yet [with Papas], but obviously I need to be quality in everything I do and work extremely hard."
As for the Jets' performances so far, he said: "We've played the football we want to play. I think the quality is there. Obviously there's things we need to improve on but I think that goes for everyone too.
"Moving on, I think we can be a very quality side."
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