Newcastle Jets Confront Injury Crisis Amid Historic Winning Streak Pursuit
The Newcastle Jets face significant injury challenges as they prepare for a crucial A-League Men encounter against Wellington Phoenix on Friday night, with their quest for a historic four-game winning streak hanging in the balance. The club's aspirations to end a 17-year drought have been dealt a serious blow with captain Kosta Grozos ruled out due to a calf strain, while attacking weapon Eli Adams remains under an injury cloud.
Injury Concerns Mount for Key Players
Coach Mark Milligan confirmed that Grozos will miss multiple weeks after aggravating a calf issue that troubled him towards the end of last season. The 25-year-old midfielder sat out Wednesday's training session at Maitland, with Milligan revealing "it looks like he'll be a couple of weeks" on the sidelines. This setback comes at a particularly inopportune moment as the Jets chase their first four consecutive victories since 2009.
Eli Adams, who scored a spectacular long-range goal last weekend, trained on Thursday but will undergo further assessment before his availability is confirmed. The winger was replaced at halftime in the previous match as a precautionary measure after icing his hamstring on the bench. Milligan adopted a cautious approach, stating "we'll just see how he pulls up after today" while acknowledging the team has adequate depth in attacking positions.
Record-Chasing Jets Confront Home Form Woes
The Jets enter Friday's match having secured three consecutive away victories against Western Sydney Wanderers, Melbourne City, and Auckland since New Year's Day. However, their home form presents a concerning contrast, with the team collecting just six of a possible 18 points at McDonald Jones Stadium this season. Milligan expressed clear disappointment with this record, stating "we are obviously disappointed with the home form and it is something we want to rectify."
Newcastle's recent resurgence has propelled them to third position on the congested A-League Men ladder with 21 points, just three ahead of eighth-placed Wellington. The team has recorded five wins from their last six matches, with the only defeat coming via a dramatic 98th-minute goal against Macarthur in a 5-4 thriller.
Leadership and Squad Depth Tested
With Grozos unavailable, Max Burgess is set to captain the side for the second consecutive week. Milligan expressed confidence in Burgess's leadership qualities, noting "Max doesn't need to be doing anything different to what he's been doing" and highlighting how younger players naturally gravitate toward his example. The 31-year-old midfielder acknowledged the privilege of captaining the club while emphasizing the team's collective approach to leadership.
Several other squad members face fitness battles ahead of the crucial fixture. Defender Thomas Aquilina continues his recovery from injury and is likely to return for next weekend's clash against Brisbane Roar. Meanwhile, new signing Zach Clough, who arrived from Malaysia during the January transfer window, remains "still a little bit away" from match fitness according to Milligan, with the coach emphasizing the 30-year-old was "never a short-term signing."
Historical Context and Current Momentum
The Jets last achieved four consecutive victories in 2009 when they defeated Sydney FC, Adelaide United, Gold Coast United, and North Queensland Fury. Current players were in vastly different life stages during that period, with Burgess recalling being "14, floating around Bondi" while midfielder Lachie Bayliss was beginning primary school in Darwin.
Newcastle's recent success has coincided with the return of Japanese international Kota Mizunuma from a hamstring injury. Since his comeback in the 3-1 victory over Wellington on December 14, the Jets have lost just once in six matches. Burgess praised Mizunuma's influence, highlighting his "spatial awareness" and describing him as "a consummate professional" who drives training standards.
As the Jets prepare for their Friday night showdown, the team faces dual challenges: overcoming significant injury setbacks while attempting to rewrite a 17-year-old club record. With home form requiring urgent improvement and Wellington posing a genuine threat to their top-six aspirations, Newcastle's character and depth will face their sternest test of the season.
