FORMER Socceroo Adrian Madaschi is confident his presence can reinforce the Newcastle Jets but insists any defensive transformation will require a team effort.
The towering central defender, capped five times by Australia, has declared himself available to make his Jets debut against Brisbane at Hunter Stadium on Friday night after missing the first five rounds with calf and thigh injuries.
In his absence, Newcastle have conceded 10 goals and are yet to register a clean sheet in their three losses and two draws.
Madaschi, 32, believes he can enhance Newcastle’s defensive structure with his experience but said it would be up to coach Phil Stubbins whether he was selected.
‘‘You’ve always got to back yourself to make an input but the important thing is the team isn’t about an individual,’’ Madaschi said.
‘‘It’s about taking on the ideas of the 14 players available and putting them together with what the coach is wanting, to make that work as best as possible.
‘‘Football is a game about who makes the least mistakes ... defending is a collective idea – 11 players defend and 11 players attack.’’
Having played abroad in Italy, Scotland and South Korea, Madaschi’s only A-League experience was a nine-game stint with Melbourne Heart in 2011-12.
He was starting to find his feet in Newcastle’s pre-season trials but has spent almost three months working his way back to full fitness.
‘‘It has been very frustrating,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ve had these little niggles in my calf and my quad, unfortunately when I was pretty much one week out from the start of the season.
‘‘That was a big setback because I really wanted to get going and give what I could to the team ... but I really hope that’s the end of it and I can make my contribution.’’
Newcastle’s results have added to his frustration but Madaschi was realistic about the slow start to the season.
‘‘We’re a new group, as Phil’s already stated,’’ he said. ‘‘There are a lot of new players, new coach, new coaching methods, new mentality.
‘‘We’re still putting pieces together and it’s going to take time.
‘‘We’re working on it. We’re aware of the mistakes we’re making and we’re trying to correct them.
‘‘As we go forward in the competition, things will keep gelling and we’ll be able to hold onto leads and see where we’ve made the mistakes in the past and definitely rectify them.’’
The 190-centimetre stopper said he was ‘‘100per cent and feeling good’’ after two weeks of full-contact training.
‘‘It’s all down to the gaffer and how he sees it, as it should be, but I am available and fit and ready to go,’’ Madaschi said.
The likely return of Madaschi, and a groin injury to Scott Neville, could prompt a backline reshuffle in which skipper Kew Jaliens switches to right back.
‘‘It depends a little bit on Scotty, how he’s getting through, but for me it doesn’t make a big difference,’’ Jaliens said.
‘‘I’ve played there [right back] many times in my career, so if this is the position I have to play on Friday, I will.’’
The inclusion of former Melbourne Victory midfielder Billy Celeski, who like Madaschi is yet to play an A-League game since joining the Jets because of injury, is the other expected change to Newcastle’s line-up.
‘‘They look ready but a game is always different from training,’’ Jaliens said of Celeski and Madaschi.
‘‘So it’s difficult to see how game-ready they are, but they look sharp and eager to play.
‘‘We’ll see what the gaffer decides.’’
