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Newcastle have signed promising midfielder and former Young Socceroo Devante Clut from A-League rivals Brisbane.
Clut, 20, was heralded as a potential breakout A-League star this time last year after scoring an eye-catching brace in a friendly against Villarreal and two goals in the Roar’s ill-fated Asian Champions League campaign.
But he spent almost the entire season frozen out of coach John Aloisi’s first-team squad, playing a combined 72 minutes in eight substitute appearances.
Clut will get the chance to resurrect his career at the Jets as Scott Miller’s first addition to his squad for the 2016-17 campaign.
“There’s going to be a lot more opportunities for me and, hopefully, I can work my way into the starting team,” Clut told AAP.
“I wouldn’t be going there if they didn’t think I was a starting player so, obviously, they have that faith in me and I’ve got to prove I’m worth that.”
The Jets first moved for Clut during the mid-season transfer window but the Roar declared he was a required player and denied him the chance to leave.
His last appearance for Brisbane was in January’s 4-1 defeat at home to eventual A-League premiers and grand finalists Adelaide United.
Former Roar interim coach Frans Thijssen said last year he was puzzled why Clut wasn’t used more by the club.
Clut believes he can pick up where he left off when he links up with the Jets, who may yet have a new owner by the time he reports for pre-season training.
“I’ve definitely improved. Regardless of how much I’ve played, I’ve become a lot fitter, a lot more mobile and I understand a lot more of the game,” he said.
“With the limited game time, I still have developed a lot so I hope to take what I’ve learned and what I knew before I stopped playing and be even better than what I was.”
Newcastle, the competition’s lowest-scoring team, and are a good fit for Clut, a No.10 with a canny eye for goal.
His recruitment follows the re-signings of striker Morten Nordstrand and defender Jason Hoffman, and the recent release of Brazilian playmaker Leonardo.
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