THE Newcastle Jets will lose leading scorer Adam Taggart for up to three games this month after his belated call-up to the Australian under-22 side.
Taggart will join three of his Jets teammates at the Asian Football Conference Under-22 Championships in Oman.
Taggart was initially left out of Aurelio Vidmar’s 23-man squad, which includes fellow Jets Josh Brillante, Andrew Hoole and Connor Chapman, but was surprised to learn this week that he would be required at the 15-day tournament, which kicks off on January 11, after an injury to Perth’s Jamie Maclaren.
The four Novocastrians will be available for tomorrow’s clash with Perth Glory at Hunter Stadium but will miss the following matches against Melbourne Victory (home) and Melbourne Heart (away) – and possibly the January 25 derby with Central Coast (away) if Australia qualify for the finals.
Taggart’s selection will place more strain on Newcastle’s depth.
The Jets could soon be without winger Nathan Burns if the club cannot extend his loan deal from Korean outfit Incheon United.
The deal is set to expire on Saturday, January 11.
Jets officials were not complaining publicly yesterday about Taggart’s selection, but behind the scenes it is understood they have voiced concerns with Football Federation Australia.
Newcastle and Melbourne Victory are the most heavily represented A-League clubs, providing four players apiece to the national side at a crucial stage of the season.
Adding to Newcastle’s frustration, Taggart was originally omitted because Vidmar said he was well aware of his ability and preferred to use this tournament to assess other players in the countdown to the Rio Olympics.
Jets coach Gary van Egmond nonetheless denied that he was disappointed to lose Taggart, who has scored six goals this season, four more than any teammate.
‘‘You’re always happy when a player gets picked for the national team,’’ van Egmond said yesterday. ‘‘There’s no greater honour.’’
Brisbane’s coach, Mike Mulvey, queried publicly last month why Taggart had been left out of the original squad, saying: ‘‘I don’t know what the direction is that’s given to Aurelio, whether it’s to pick the strongest players, or blood some players.
‘‘The only surprise for me when I was looking at the squad was if we’re picking the best players that Adam Taggart was overlooked.’’
Van Egmond admitted the three games after tomorrow’s would be ‘‘an interesting little spell’’ but was confident his side had the resources to cope.
‘‘We’ll lose four players, and there’s still a little bit of doubt about Nathan,’’ he said.
‘‘But we’ve always been about being a squad, and when players get the opportunity, they have to be ready.
‘‘If players are out for whatever reason, it creates a chance for someone else.’’
Marquee striker Emile Heskey would be the ideal man to replace Taggart, but he is still battling for full fitness after an injury-interrupted season.
The former England international will again be used as an impact player off the bench tomorrow night. A strong showing could earn him a starting berth for the Victory game six days later.
‘‘He’s had a torrid time with the injuries,’’ van Egmond said of Heskey. ‘‘His knee is probably giving him a bit more grief than what we first thought.’’
