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Melbourne Victory are back on the road for the first time since late November as they head to the Hunter to take on the Newcastle Jets. Live coverage will start from 7.30pm AEDT on The Roar, be sure to follow all the action here.
The match is a crucial one for two sides coming off losses.
Victory’s top-two hopes are all but over as they crashed to a 3-0 defeat to Brisbane last week and have missed the chance to take a stronghold at the top, having only take seven points out of a potential 15 from their month-long run of games at home.
The Jets have dropped in the past weeks from their good run of form and results, losing to Adelaide United and Perth Glory in their last two fixtures.
Both Kevin Muscat and Gary van Egmond have had to deal with the absence of their sides’ core youth players as the AFC Under-22 Championships get underway.
Leadership players in Kew Jaliens, Adrian Leijer and Mark Milligan have also made it on to their clubs’ missing persons list. However Archie Thompson and Emile Heskey will play a part in the match, both having been passed fit to play.
Victory will be forced to field a makeshift defence, with a likely back four of Leigh Broxham, Dylan Murnane, Pablo Contreras and Adama Traore to start.
Youth players in Jesse Makarounas, Francesco Stella, Andrew Nabbout and Rashid Mahazi are all within a chance for some game-time for the visitors.
They’ll pin their hopes on catching the Jets out of position and hit on the counter where possible – Victory are most dangerous when teams leave space up the back.
The Jets, despite missing their first team youth talent in Adam Taggart, Andrew Hoole and Josh Brillante, should go in as narrow favourites.
This will be an interesting test for the Jets and for van Egmond – how he approaches this match will be the key for his side.
Leave your predictions below and be sure to follow the match live here on The Roar.
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