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A-League action returns this Saturday afternoon in Adelaide as Adelaide United host the struggling Newcastle Jets at Coopers Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5.30pm (AEDT).
The Reds capped off the first half of the season with an impressive away win against league leaders Perth Glory, and they will be keen to continue their impressive form into the second half of the season.
The Jets meanwhile be hoping to ameliorate their season, after only winning one game thus far to sit in a dismal ninth position on eight points.
Over the Asian Cup break Newcastle have experienced a leadership crisis within the club, and ended their association with attacking midfielder Marcos Flores. Midfielder Andrew Hoole is also expected to leave the club, with the 22-year-old linked to Sydney FC.
Adelaide have only beaten the Jets once in their last five meetings, the most recent defeat coming in December last year for what has been Newcastle’s first and only win of the season. But Coopers Stadium has been a bogey ground for the Jets, having only won 3 times in 16 clashes there.
The Jets will be without leading goal-scorer Jeronimo Neumann, who injured his shoulder and is expected to miss up to three weeks. The former Red was a key contributor in the December win over Adelaide, slotting home a goal after coming off the bench.
The Jets will also be without James Virgili – the winger injured his ankle during training and may miss up to three months of action.
The Jets however welcome back experienced midfielder Billy Celeski and have promoted Taylor Regan and the club’s 2013-14 Youth Player of the Year Radovan Pavicevic into the first team.
The Reds meanwhile will name an unchanged line-up from their victory against Perth Glory.
The Reds have scored 24 goals this season, scoring in 12 of their 14 games. They have also had nine individual goal scorers, with five of those scoring more than three goals. Adelaide’s multiple goal-scoring options will be a threat to the Jets, who have conceded 28 goals this season, the most in the league.
After receiving a nomination for NAB Young Footballer of the Year, James Jeggo will be looking to continue his impressive form with his new club after an impressive month of football. The 22-year-old has played in every match and has been a key contributor in the Adelaide midfield.
Newcastle striker Joel Griffiths will be looking to improve on his three goals this season, having not scored since his side went down 3-1 to Wellington on December 6.
Despite a great recent record against the Reds, Newcastle will struggle without Neumann and Flores. Adelaide should be too strong and are expected to win comfortably.
Join The Roar this afternoon from 5:30pm (AEDT) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
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