Newcastle coach Gary van Egmond is hoping former English Premier League striker Michael Bridges’ first A-League start since coming out of retirement coincides with a turnaround in form for his side.
The Jets have lost three games in a row and risk dropping to last place on the ladder if they again fail to capture any points on Saturday, when they host Perth, who have also gleaned just 13 points from 12 games.
While defeats to Sydney FC and Central Coast were respectable, Newcastle’s last-start performance was dreadful – a 5-2 capitulation in Wellington that reportedly reduced Ryan Griffiths to tears.
Nonetheless, there was a silver lining for van Egmond.
“I thought he (Bridges) was excellent in the second half against Wellington,” he said.
“He brings a lot of creativity to that area. He can score goals, he can hold the ball up.”
Bridges, who retired in April this year due to a knee injury but reversed that decision in November, made more than 200 appearances in the Premier League with Sunderland, Leeds and Newcastle.
The 33-year-old has played two matches this season, making limited cameos off the bench, but will now become a core part of van Egmond’s side.
“Bridgey will start,” said van Egmond.
“We’ve got a game plan helping him out because we know he’s not going to press completely and utterly high every time.
“We’ve got to position our players, and have players in areas which we feel will complement him – and vice versa.
“It (the formation) is still a 4-3-3 but with Bridgey playing at the point.”
With regular skipper Jobe Wheelhouse hospitalised with a foot infection, Tiago Calvano will again lead the Jets.
While Bridges’ return is likely to boost Newcastle, the visitors will be without talismanic striker Shane Smeltz (groin).
Van Egmond admitted the New Zealand international’s absence would be a major advantage for the home side.
“It is significant, if you lose someone like Smeltz … but they’ve got some good players.”
The Glory could potentially play Billy Mehmet as a lone striker, or have Mile Sterjovski or Adam Taggart fill in for Smeltz.
Josh Mitchell (suspension) will be another forced omission, with Steve Pantelidis to be shifted from the midfield to the centre of defence.
Glory coach Ian Ferguson admitted it wasn’t ideal to have a re-jigged line-up for what is a crucial clash.
“We’ve just got to go on with what we’ve got at this moment in time and try and get through as best as we can,” Ferguson said.
“This squad that we’ve picked to go up there, I’m sure it will be very positive and can get a result.”
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