IRISH veteran Wes Hoolahan is eager for more game time with the Newcastle Jets as he weighs up whether to continue his illustrious career beyond this season.
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Hoolahan, the former Republic of Ireland international and Norwich City club legend, joined the Jets at the start of the season, only to suffer an ankle injury that required surgery.
The 37-year-old has been restricted to two appearances off the bench, of 28 and 29 minutes, and is hoping to convince coach Carl Robinson that he is ready for an extended hit-out in Sunday's clash with Adelaide at Coopers Stadium.
"He's had a 10-day build-up, so he's knocking on the door, wanting to play more minutes, obviously more than the 30 he did last week," Robinson said.
Robinson said he had held informal talks with Hoolahan, who signed a one-season with Newcastle, about his plans after this campaign.
"We speak every day, me and Wes," Robinson said.
"Obviously he's a good lad. He's a terrific little player, we know that.
"He's had a difficult year with his injury, but I think he's enjoying his football.
"And you play as long as you can. When you're a player, if you stop enjoying the game, you should get out of the game. But he's still enjoying the game, and we've spoken at length about it. With regards to next year, we'll speak towards the end of the season.
"But I want good people around, good professionals, and he certainly is that. So in the next couple of weeks we'll probably sit down and talk seriously."
Robinson said he felt Hoolahan still has a desire to "show what he can do" in the A-League. "I've seen what he did in England for 15-odd years, and obviously now the Australian public get to see what he does between now and the end of the season, and hopefully beyond," he said.
Strikers Abdiel Arroyo and Bernie Ibini did not complete Thursday's training session for "precautionary" reasons, Robinson said.
New signing Joe Ledley, the former Welsh international midfielder, is expected to make his A-League debut against Adelaide.
"He's not far away, whether he starts the game or whether he comes on, he will be involved in the game at some stage," Robinson said.
"It's good to get Joe in. Obviously the experience that he brings, he's a natural leader and he understands the game. You don't play so many times for Wales [77] at the highest level if you don't understand the game."
"He's brought training to another level."
