MOHAMED Al-Taay reckons it's only natural for humans to want more "once you get something".
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This rings true for the Newcastle Jets recruit, who is now chasing increased minutes and eventually a spot in the first XI after making his A-Leagues debut on the weekend.
Al-Taay came off the bench, one of three substitutes utilised by Jets coach Arthur Papas in the 77th minute, during Saturday's 2-all draw with Sydney FC at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
"It makes me very hungry," Al-Taay said after training at Maitland on Tuesday.
"It's just natural as a human you always want more and more once you get something.
"I just want to keep building on this moment and just make sure I'm consistent now.
"However many minutes I get or whatever game time I get, I just have to make an impact positively and play my role in the team."
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The 21-year-old was previously linked with Western Sydney Wanderers, but hadn't made any appearances in the men's national competition.
Al-Taay arrived in Newcastle during the off-season after being announced as a signing in July.
He was an unused interchange player in the 2021-2022 opener and didn't feature on the match-day list for round two.
It was a case of third time lucky, called up with the Jets having equalised courtesy of a Valentino Yuel double in the space of six second-half minutes.
"It was amazing. I've been working very hard for this moment," Al-Taay said.
"I was grateful for the boss to give me this opportunity to come on at such an important stage of the game.
"I was just very happy and honoured."
Post full-time Al-Taay admitted "there was a lot of banter around in the change room" because "the boys were very happy I made the debut" and added "my family are very proud of me at the moment".
Down the track he has ambitions to be part of the starting team.
"That's the goal at the end of the day, but I've got to be patient and whenever it's time it's time," he said.
"I have to take that chance and it just comes down to how I play."
Having shared the points on the road twice in a row, following a first-up loss to the Mariners, Newcastle are scheduled to host Wellington Phoenix at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday.
"Saturday is done now and our main focus is Wellington," Al-Taay said.
"We've got to make sure we fix those minor problems we had, go into the game with confidence and make sure we execute to get the three points."
Newcastle play three of their next four fixtures at home - Wellington (December 10), Wanderers (December 26) and Melbourne City (January 1).
"All the boys are pumped," Al-Taay said.
"At the end of the day it's about making the fans happy and making everyone proud."
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