(A-Leagues)
Newy 87.8 FM – Newcastle Jets coach Mark Milligan says his side "will be a fantastic team this year" ahead of Tuesday night's AFC Champions League Elite match against Japanese side Gamba Osaka at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Jets lost 7-1 to J1 League side Kashima Antlers in Japan in matchweek one of the competition.
Milligan said the four weeks since that result had been valuable on the training pitch as the side adjusts to significant squad changes. "These last months have been fantastic in terms of being able to build into the team that we want to be," he said.
Thirteen players departed the Jets' double-winning side during the off-season, including Lachie Rose, Mark Natta, Clayton Taylor and Lachlan Bayliss, while seven new faces arrived, among them former Sydney FC star Joe Lolley and ex-Melbourne Victory striker Nikos Vergos.
Milligan confirmed off-season signing Alex Grant will be in the matchday squad after missing the Kashima game.
Former Jet Eli Adams will line up for Gamba Osaka after joining the Japanese club for an undisclosed fee. "There'll be no sentiment from our side of things. He plays for Gamba," Milligan said.
Captain Max Burgess said the side's focus remains on its own performance. After Tuesday's match, the Jets face Central Coast Mariners in Saturday's A-League Men season opener at polytec Stadium.
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