Andrew Nabbout started the 2017/18 season off slowly and didn’t live up to the heights he set last season after bagging eight goals to claim Newcastle Jets’ top scorer.
In recent weeks however the 24-year-old has regained form and is beginning to show signs of getting back to his best after scoring in wins over Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United.
Nabbout’s link up play with Ronny Vargas before his injury as well as Dimitri Petratos and Roy O’Donovan has been setting the league alight and has opposition defences bamboozled on a weekly basis.
In the Jets’ first loss of the season against Sydney FC, Nabbout was moved from his favoured left-sided midfield role and deployed at striker in place of the injured O’Donovan but struggled on the night due to a lack of service.
“I think I was okay. I’ve played there a few times when I was coming up at Melbourne Victory and in the last couple of seasons,” Nabbout said.
“I’m comfortable there but it’s a bit different. You have to be a little bit more patient but I like it.
“I make forward runs in behind and with the players I have behind me it’s good to play up there and I’ll gradually get used to it.”
Nabbout’s outlook on the position embodies the can-do attitude and group mentality exhibited by the Jets in the opening rounds of the season.
“I’m happy doing a job wherever I’m told to play I’ll play, he said.”
“It’s kind of similar to playing out wide except the runs are a lot different and you have to peel off shoulders and work a lot more central.”
The decision to play Nabbout in the number 9 role more than paid off on Thursday night as the ex-Melbourne Victory man grabbed a brace against his former team.
Coach Ernie Merrick was in high praise of the forward following the win.
“Andrew Nabbout is a good all round player up front and the service he was getting from Dimi [Petratos] was first class,” Merrick said.
The brace against Victory justifies Merrick’s decision to play Nabbout up front and has doubled his goal tally to four for the season.
With a stern test of their credentials next weekend against Melbourne City it will be another opportunity for Nabbout to prove his worth at the attacking end of the field and ensure the Jets aren’t hindered by the absence of Roy O’Donovan.
