Preview: Newcastle Jets vs. Macarthur – prediction, team news, lineups

Newcastle Jets host Macarthur in the Australian A-League on Sunday morning as the 2008 champions host the league’s newcomers in the first-ever encounter between the two teams.

The visitors have made a solid start to life in the Australian top flight and will be looking to take advantage of the hosts’ recent poor form.

Match preview

© Reuters

The Jets have lost their opening two encounters of the new season and currently sit bottom of the A-League as a result.

They lost former manager Carl Robinson to domestic rivals Western Sydney Wanderers over the summer and are yet to replace him on a permanent basis.

Craig Deans remains as caretaker manager at the Newcastle International Sports Centre and will be looking for his first victory in the role.

A 2-1 loss to Robinson’s new side last time out would have been a hard result for Newcastle to take, and they will want to bounce back with a much-improved performance over the weekend.

Macarthur have won one, lost one and drawn one of their opening three games of the campaign, leaving them in third position ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.

Ante Milicic has established an exciting squad at the Campbelltown Stadium, with former Athletic Bilbao forward Markel Susaeta joining the likes of ex-Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici and former Blackburn Rovers striker Matt Derbyshire in New South Wales.

Susaeta arrived on a free after being released by Melbourne City in the off-season and bagged his first goal for his new club in the 1-1 draw with Wellington Phoenix last time out.

A second victory of the season could signal the Bulls’ intentions for the remainder of the campaign and send a serious message to their domestic competitors.

Newcastle Jets Australian A-League form: LL

Macarthur Australian A-League form: WLD

Team News

Defensive midfielder Ben Kantarovski and 22-year-old full-back John Koutroumbis are unavailable at the weekend, with the pair suffering from injury.

Jason Hoffman picked up a knock just 10 minutes into the first game of the season and is expected to return to the starting XI in the coming weeks.

Milicic has the luxury of a fully-fit squad to choose from for Macarthur’s trip to Newcastle on Sunday.

Former Hibernian midfielder Mark Milligan has been putting in some impressive displays in the engine room and will be looking to lead the team to victory once again.

Newcastle Jets possible starting lineup:
Duncan; Boogaard, Topor-Stanley, Jackson; O’Toole, Ugarkovic, Petratos, Thurgate; Najjarine, O’Donovan, Yuel

Macarthur possible starting lineup:
Federici; Meredith, Susnjar, Jovanovic, Franjic; Milligan, Genreau; Najjar, Etxebarria, Susaeta; Derbyshire

We say: Newcastle Jets 0-2 Macarthur

Despite Macarthur being the new boys on the block, we fancy them to see off the Jets and claim the three points in what is just their second A-League away game. The Bulls have an especially strong midfield, and they should have too much quality for a stuttering Newcastle team.