JASON Hoffman reminded the Jets what they were missing for the final third of last season when he scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over the club's youth team in their first trial of the new campaign on Wednesday morning.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Kaine Sheppard and Dimi and Kosta Petratos also scored for the main squad in the hit-out at Ray Watt Oval. Riley Smith bagged a late consolation for the youth side, who had Newcastle No.1 Glen Moss in goals.
Hoffman got in behind and beat a defender with clever footwork before powering a shot through Moss to open the scoring. He struck twice more, including a tap-in off a cross from Pat Langlois late in the game.
The bright return is a boost for the Jets, who were without Hoffman for the final nine games of last season as their fight for a finals place fell five points short.
Hoffman dislocated an ankle tendon at training and was sidelined for five months after surgery.
"We missed Hoff last year," Moss said. "Honestly, when people say 'what went wrong?' ... he was a big loss for us. The year before, the grand final year, he was one of our best players.
"He's looking fit and sharp and definitely enthusiastic, so we've got to keep him out on the pitch."
The friendly was also the first game for recruits Matt Millar and Nick Fitzgerald.
Fullback Millar, who had a breakout season with Central Coast in 2018-19, showed his work-rate and speed down the right side, setting up Sheppard's headed goal late in the match. A-League journeyman Fitzgerald, who was recovering from illness, was also dangerous.
Moss expected both players to improve the Jets' attack, which had the most shots in the A-League last season - 437 - but sat 10th at 13 per cent in chances converted.
"[Millar] is a real workhorse and he looks quite attacking minded as well, which is good because that's the way we like to play, an attacking brand of football, so I think he'll fit in perfectly for us," he said.
"[Fitzgerald] gets himself in some good positions so now it's just a matter of trying to find him with the right pass where he can score and we get nice and close to the goal instead of shooting from distance and relying on Dimi to score a few worldies every now and then.
"Fitzy is a fit little lad and he's going to cover some ground for us this year, and hopefully we get him in the right positions to score some goals."
Veteran centre-backs Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Nigel Boogaard did not play, instead training lightly nearby as they return from injury and surgery respectively.
The Jets' next hit-out will come against Northern NSW NPL leaders Edgeworth on Saturday week at Jack McLaughlan Oval. Their first competition match will be the FFA Cup clash with Melbourne Victory on August 7 at AAMI Park.
"There's pressure on us to perform this year and it starts in pre-season with the FFA Cup," Moss said. "We don't want another repeat of where we finished last season, so what better place to start than in the FFA Cup."