Jets Sign Pasfield As Back-up For Injured Kennedy

Newcastle Herald

Saturday July 21, 2007

By JAMES GARDINER

FORMER Sydney FC goalkeeper Justin Pasfield decided he needed a new environment to kick-start his career and had planned to head to Belgium next month for a series of trials.

Instead, the 22-year-old Wollongong product has accepted an emergency call from Newcastle Jets coach Gary van Egmond and will sit on the bench against Melbourne Victory in the Pre-Season Cup clash at Skilled Stadium in Geelong tomorrow.

Pasfield has signed a short-term deal to cover back-up keeper Ben Kennedy, who will miss at least a month with a strained medial ligament in his left knee.

Kennedy damaged his knee when he went to clear a ball at training on Wednesday.

"Gary rang me on Thursday morning," Pasfield said after his first training session with the Jets yesterday.

"I had arranged a trial at Charleroi and was planning to leave for Belgium in the next couple of weeks.

"I rang and told them I had potentially something here. The Belgium pre-season does not start for a couple of weeks and they were happy for me to stay here for now."

A former Young Socceroo, Pasfield spent two years as the understudy to Clint Bolton at Sydney.

"We were fortunate that Justin was available," van Egmond said.

"He has been at an A-League club and knows what it is about.

"He is more a back-up to [first choice] Ante Covic, but you never know what can happen. I'm sure he will get some game time between now and when he goes back."

Pasfield made two appearances for Sydney in the Pre-season Cup but is yet to make his A-League debut.

He was suited up as an outfield substitute at the height of Sydney's injury woes last season, ironically against Newcastle, but was not called on.

Frustrated by a lack of opportunities, he left Sydney halfway through their Asian Champions League campaign and joined Sydney United in the NSW Premier League.

"I won a premiership in the first year at Sydney and made some good friends, but it got to the point where I had to move on if I wanted to play games," Pasfield said.

"I knew Clint Bolton was there, but I did not know he was a freak and would not get injured in two years."

Pasfield faces an equally tough task overtaking Covic but is just glad for another opportunity.

"It's unfortunate that Ben got injured, but I have come up here to do a job for the club," Pasfield said.

"Hopefully, I get a chance to prove myself."

Trainee keeper Ben McNamara has been at the Jets since the start of pre-season training, but Lake Macquarie were reluctant to release the teenager on the eve of the Northern NSW finals series.

Once a player signs a professional contract they must wait 30 days once it is complete before they can return as an amateur.

Joel Griffiths returns against Melbourne after missing the 1-0 loss to Perth in the opening round on suspension.

? Sydney have failed to recruit former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler as their marquee player.

Fowler's adviser, George Scott, telephoned Sydney yesterday with the bad news.

Sydney have already missed out on Dutch star Phillip Cocu and Socceroo John Aloisi.

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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