Jedinak to provide midfield spark for Mariners

Highly-rated emerging midfield talent Mile Jedinak has been included in the Central Coast Mariners’ squad to face the Newcastle Jets in Sunday’s eagerly awaited derby match up at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

Jedinak, 22, has been drafted into the Mariners squad as a short-term replacement for fellow midfielder Matthew Osman, who will be sidelined for at least another four weeks with a groin injury.

Although yet to debut in the Hyundai A-League, Jedinak has already enjoyed two short-term stints with the yellow and navy and has been a regular training participant since early August.

Most recently a key member of Sydney United’s NSW Premier League title winning lineup, Jedinak was an unused substitute in back-to-back matches away to the New Zealand Knights and Adelaide United in round’s six and seven.

Damien Brown has also been recalled to the Mariners’ extended squad for the match, with Tom Pondeljak omitted due to a hip flexor strain sustained during last Friday’s 3-3 draw away to the Melbourne Victory.

"We’ve had Mile training with us for some time now and there’s no doubt in my mind that he is good enough for the Hyundai A-League," said Mariners Football Manager Lawrie McKinna.

"The atmosphere on Sunday will set the stage for Mile to show the Australian football public what he is capable of.

"Because he’s been involved with us for so long, he knows our team, he knows the way we play and he knows what he needs to do should he be called upon on Sunday."

Sunday’s match will be the ninth encounter between the Mariners and the Jets, which is more times than any two Hyundai A-League teams have met in the history of new football.

In eight previous meetings between the Mariners and Jets, only three matches have produced a result after ninety minutes.

The Mariners’ 4-1 win over the Jets on New Years Eve 2005 is the only occasion a derby match has been won by more than a one-goal margin and the only time more than two goals have been scored in a derby match after ninety minutes.

In total, the derby ledger is slighted skewed towards the Mariners, who have recorded two wins, one loss and five draws in matches against their northern rivals, however, two of the aforementioned draws have resulted in Mariners victories either after extra time or via penalty shoot out.

"As far as derby matches between the Mariners and the Jets go, this is as big and as crucial as any we’ve played," said McKinna.

"Both teams are on the same points, both teams are in form and both teams know how important three points are on Sunday – it promises to be something special."

Mariners Team Line-up: 2 Wayne O'Sullivan, 3 Paul O’Grady, 4 Noel Spencer, 7 John Hutchinson, 8 Jamie McMaster, 9 Nik Mrdja, 11 Damien Brown, 12 Stewart Petrie, 13 Tony Vidmar, 14 Vuko Tomasevic, 18 Alex Wilkinson, 19 Adam Kwasnik, 20 Danny Vukovic (gk), 23 Mile Jedinak, 25 Damien Mori, 30 Matthew Trott (gk).

Newcastle Jets Team Line-up: 1 Ivan Necevski (gk), 2 Steve Eagleton, 5 Milton Rodriguez, 3 Jade North, 8 Matt Thompson, 9 Vaughan Coveny, 10 Nick Carle, 11 Tarek Elrich, 12 Paul Okon, 13 Adam D’Apuzzo, 15 Stuart Musialik, 16 Labinot Haliti, 18 Joel Griffiths, 19 Mark Bridge, 20 Ben Kennedy (gk), 22 Steven Old, 24 Paul Kohler.

A-League Round 12

Newcastle Jets vs Central Coast Mariners
Sunday afternoon, November 12
Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle
Kick off: 5:00pm (AEDT)

Live Coverage on Fox Sports Three from 4:30pm (AEDT).
Radio: ABC 1233 Newcastle (1233AM); Coast FM 96.3FM (Central Coast)

The Mariners return to Central Coast Stadium on Saturday November 25, when they host FIFA World Cup winner and world football icon Romario for his only interstate appearance during his four-match guest stint with Adelaide United. Kick off is at 7pm.

Tickets are now on sale from Ticketek outlets, the Ticketek website – www.ticketek.com.au, or via phone on 132 849.