Exit Edmundo: Zura bids Jets farewell

Zura, who also gave an emotional two-handed wave to Newcastle's fan club The Squadron after the 2-1 loss to Queensland Roar, is expected to return home to his young family in Ecuador this week.

Jets owner Con Constantine said the powerfully built striker "is more than welcome to stay" and was holding out some hope that he could be convinced to see out the season.

But it appeared last night Zura may already have arranged a flight home independently.

Constantine conceded Zura was desperate to be with his wife and four-year-old son, who have been unable to join him in Australia because of visa issues.

"The boy's homesick, and because of that he's not feeling the best, so I can't say one way or another," Constantine said yesterday.

"But from the club's point of view, I want him to stay."

Teammates, however, revealed Zura was crying in the dressing room after the game and informed them, with his basic English, he had decided to leave.

"He tapped me on the shoulder and shook my hand," Jets defender Tarek Elrich told The Herald. "I asked what was up and he said: 'Finito. I'm going home. I need my family.' "

Midfielder Matt Thompson said the situation was "very sad".

"He walks out of here tonight and we may never see him again," Thompson said.

In hindsight, it should be no shock that the 25-year-old Ecuadorean international has been unable to settle, on or off the field.

He arrived in Newcastle on August 1 on a loan deal and, through an interpreter, spoke of his desire to build a better life for his family in Australia. Three months later they still have not joined him, although Jets chief executive John Tsatsimas said appropriate visas were recently obtained.

Tsatsimas blamed the delay on "an issue over there [in South America]" and said the Jets had explored every possible avenue to hasten the process.

Separated from his family, Zura has also been isolated by the language barrier. Only one teammate, Kaz Patafta, is able to converse with him in Spanish.

Constantine said he sympathised with Zura's situation but would meet with him this week and was hopeful he could convince the struggling target man to stick it out.

"First, let's have a meeting with him and find out what his mind is saying," Constantine said.

"It's very hard for me to say one way or another.

"If we come out in the paper tomorrow and say we're going to release him, then the boy will say, 'You don't want me.'

"I don't want to say that. From the club's point of view, we've got no issue with him."

On the field, Zura has been unable to live up to his reputation and adjust to Newcastle's up-tempo playing style. In nine games or 610 minutes of playing time he has not scored a goal.

He lasted the full 90 minutes in only three games. In the early rounds, he seemed to run out of steam and was replaced midway through the second half. Twice Jets coach Gary van Egmond used him as an impact player off the bench.

Van Egmond's frustration surfaced last month when he publicly stated that he doubted Zura would make the grade in the A-League.

Within days, there were rumours that Zura wanted out, which van Egmond denied.

Like hapless Brazilian veteran Mario Jardel last season, Zura has appeared cursed at times this season. Last month against Melbourne he took a penalty but smashed it into the post.

Then yesterday against the Roar, his sixth-minute header glanced into the net but he was ruled offside.

Nonetheless, his deft pass to Joel Griffiths in the 23rd minute set up Newcastle's lone goal.

Afterwards, Griffiths denied speculation that he and his strike partner had fallen out.

Van Egmond, who was surprised by suggestions that Zura might be leaving the club, gave him a mixed review after yesterday's display.

"I thought first half he was enterprising and looked good a great ball for Joel to score from," van Egmond said. "Second half he probably ran out of petrol.

"He was reasonably effective."