Interim Head Coach Adam Griffiths has confirmed that Jaiden Kucharski and Tom Lawrence will both return to boost Glory’s attacking options in Sunday’s Round 5 away clash with Newcastle Jets (kick-off at 2pm WST, watch live on Paramount+).
Click HERE to view Adam’s full pre-match media conference.
Kucharski marked his Glory debut by scoring on opening day before succumbing to a groin injury during the Round 2 visit to Melbourne City, while Welsh international Lawrence suffered concussion on his first appearance in purple and was consequently forced to miss the home fixture against Central Coast Mariners.
But the duo are very much back in the selection mix as the men in purple look to build upon an extended period on the training track during the international break and secure a first win at McDonald Jones Stadium since 2018.
“It’s been high-intensity, good workloads in terms of our increase and implementing some more of the playing model that we’re looking to put onto the pitch,” said Griffiths.
“New players are starting to come back in that have been out for a couple of weeks, the players are starting to get more familiar with what we want and obviously we’re trying to drive that winning mentality in everything that we do.
“JK [Kucharski] should come back in and Tom Lawrence is back in which is a real help in the front third.
“Taggs [Adam Taggart] has had a little bit of a heel issue and missed a lot of training, but he will most likely be available, so those are the main additions who will make a big difference.”
The Head Coach went on to confirm that Sam Sutton and Luke Amos are recovering well from their respective injuries but will not be available this weekend and that Brandon O’Neill may also miss the trip to his former club as his wife prepares to give birth to their second child.
As for Sunday’s opponents, they will be desperate to bounce back from consecutive heavy defeats against Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar and Griffiths is expecting a tough test in the Hunter Valley.
“They’re a technical group with a lot of fast players and dribblers,” he said.
“They’re a very good team and a dangerous team that scores a lot of goals, but there’s also opportunity at the other end, which is good for us.”
On the subject his own coaching future, meanwhile, Griffiths was typically forthright.
“I don’t think the club is in a hurry to make a rash decision and what is expected of me, like any other coach, is performance and results,” he said.
“Performance is the number one for anyone.
“If you get the performance, most likely you get good results and then that becomes a consistent thing.
“I’m fully aware that this club wants results and good performances and we have a strong squad, so that’s my objective.”
Newcastle’s four fixtures this season have featured goals galore, with Mark Milligan’s men scoring eight and conceding 12.
Interestingly, those eight goals for the Jets have come from 16 shots on target, while Glory have recorded 14 shots on target, only two of which have gone in.
20-year-old striker Alex Badolato has been Newcastle’s standout performer, helping himself to four goals, while Ben Gibson has bagged two, overlapping full-back Daniel Wilmering has contributed two assists and former Glory man Aleksandar Susnjar has started every game at the heart of their defence.
McDonald Jones Stadium has been one of Glory’s more productive away hunting grounds over the years, the WA side having secured 12 wins there to the Jets’ eight, but meetings between the two sides in recent years have been very evenly contested, with six of the last seven ending with a 2-2 scoreline.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2025/26 Season Round 5
Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory
McDonald Jones Stadium
Sunday 23 November 2025
Kick-off: 2pm WST
Newcastle Jets squad: 1. James DELIANOV, 5. Joe SHAUGHNESSY, 8. Lachlan BAYLISS, 9. Lachlan ROSE, 11. Ben GIBSON, 13. Clayton TAYLOR, 14. Max BURGESS, 15. Aleksandar ŠUŠNJAR, 17. Kosta GROZOS, 19. Alex BADOLATO, 20. Alexx NASSIEP, 22. Joel BERTOLISSIO, 23. Daniel WILMERING, 24. Alex NUNES, 28. Will DOBSON, 33. Mark NATTA, 39. Thomas AQUILINA, 42. Max COOPER, 43. Xavier BERTONCELLO, 45. Christian BRACCO
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 20. Alexx NASSIEP, 42. Max COOPER
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 7. Eli ADAMS, 18. Kota MIZUNUMA, 20. Alex NASSIEP, 25. Oscar FRYER, 21. Noah JAMES, 40. Jordan BAYLIS
Perth Glory squad: 2.Charbel SHAMOON, 4.Scott WOOTTON (co-c), 6.Brandon O’NEILL, 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON, 8.Callum TIMMINS, 9.Jaiden KUCHARSKI, 11.Lachlan WALES, 17.Arion SULEMANI, 18.Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 19.Josh RISDON, 20.Trent OSTLER , 21.Adam BUGARIJA, 22.Adam TAGGART (co-c), 24.Andriano LEBIB, 25.Sebastian DESPOTOVSKI, 27.Will FRENEY, 29.Matt SUTTON (gk), 34.Tom LAWRENCE, 40.Ryan WARNER (gk), 45.Brian KALTAK
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 9.Jaiden KUCHARSKI, 20.Trent OSTLER, 34.Tom LAWRENCE
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI(gk) (injured), 3.Sam SUTTON (injured), 10.Luke AMOS (injured), 13.Cameron COOK (gk) (injured), 15.Zach LISOLAJSKI (injured), 31.Joel ANASMO (injured)
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