Griffiths May Get Time Out To Recuperate

Newcastle Herald

Thursday September 27, 2007

By JAMES GARDINER

JETS coach Gary van Egmond will consider giving Joel Griffiths a week off in an effort to get his star striker back to peak fitness.

Griffiths has not trained with the squad for a second straight week after he suffered a badly corked thigh in the team's 2-all draw with Melbourne.

The in-form front man is expected to be fit in time for the blockbuster against arch rivals Sydney FC at Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night, but van Egmond has not ruled out resting him.

"This is the second week in a row where he has had an issue," van Egmond said yesterday.

"We need to get Joel back on the paddock, not just for games, but also training.

"It may get to the stage where we leave him out for a week, because he needs to recover and get a good week of training under his belt, rather than every game he plays he comes up short again.

"We need to have a good look at that."

Griffiths was troubled by an adductor problem in the lead-up to the 1-0 win over Adelaide in round four.

"You go through periods in your football career where it does not matter what happens you tend to come off second best in whatever confrontation you have on the pitch," van Egmond said.

"Whether it is a challenge or something very innocuous it tends to hit you in the wrong spot.

"Joel is one of these players who is athletically gifted, but even they have to train. He needs to get touches on the ball and work on combinations.

"I'm hopeful he will train tomorrow. It won't be a massively hard session. It will be more crossing and finishing, but he will still get a decent workout."

Jets owner Con Constantine is keen for marquee signing Mario Jardel to get more game time.

The Jets have also signed unknown Nigerian striker Boima "Jerry" Karpeh to a short-term deal for injured defender Steve Eagleton, but he will not be registered in time to play this weekend.

"There is a chance Mario may start," van Egmond said.

"It will depend what happens with Joel. There are others who have done well, so we will have to see what best suits the team."

Karpeh has impressed at training but is far from a finished product.

"Physically he is strong; he is very quick and knows where the back of the net is," van Egmond said. "He is a fairly rough diamond and needs quite a bit of polish."

Right fullback Andrew Durante also picked up a knock against Melbourne, and Jobe Wheelhouse is making good progress with an Achilles injury.

Sydney's marquee signing, Juninho, is expected to return from a shoulder injury.

One of the many highlights for the Jets last week was the midfield partnership of Stuart Musialik and Adam D'Apuzzo.

"I like the combination," van Egmond said. "Stuey needs someone around him who has some legs.

"Adam needs to keep believing that he is good enough to be in that company and keep performing.

"There are people behind him who want his spot, but if he keeps performing there is not much they can do."

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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