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Flores key to Jets revival, says Stubbins

23rd November, 2014
1

Newcastle coach Phil Stubbins has pinpointed Marcos Flores as the man who can turn around the Jets’ A-League season.

Stubbins’ side are still looking for a first win of the season but were much improved on Saturday as they grabbed a 1-1 draw with Western Sydney to bounce back from last week’s 4-0 defeat by Brisbane.

Flores grabbed a first-half equaliser with a smart finish at Pirtek Stadium and earlier saw a stinging volley crash back off the crossbar.

It was only the second start of the campaign for the Argentinian playmaker who arrived at the club on the back of a serious knee injury picked up during his spell with the Central Coast Mariners.

The former Johnny Warren medallist had played just six minutes of the previous three matches before being restored to the starting line-up by Stubbins, who was delighted with his contribution.

“To have a No.10 who is a genuine No.10 is something any team would be pleased to have,” Stubbins said.

“He linked up the play in a very good way and his enthusiasm around the group is quite infectious, and to score the goal he did was a great tonic for him.

“He’s not 100 per cent, as everyone knows, but he made every Newcastle supporter very proud with his performance.”

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“He comes in and changes the dynamic of the team. We’ll be looking at him to start next week for sure.”

Experienced former Socceroos winger David Carney also had a strong game after Stubbins took the decision to play him on the right wing instead of his usual left side.

It paid off in the 26th minute when he cut inside Shannon Cole and floated a superb ball into the path of Flores, who beat Ante Covic from close range.

Stubbins said it was the 30-year-old’s best display since his arrival at the club following a nomadic career that’s seen him ply his trade in England, Scotland, the US, Spain and Uzbekistan.

“I said to (assistant coach) Clayton Zane on the bench, ‘he’s looking alright out there on the right’,” Stubbins said.

“He did a great job for us. Dave is growing into his role with the club and the team and is improving all the time and it was a great little assist for the goal.

“Whether he’s playing on the left or the right, he is capable of doing a very good job for us.”

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