Newcastle Jets' teenager Archie Goodwin has provided the perfect pick me up for the country's crestfallen football supporters.
The night after the Socceroos' lack of depth and firepower up front was exposed by Japan, 17-year-old striker Goodwin showed there was hope for the future with two well-taken goals in the Jets 2-0 ALM home win over Sydney FC.
Making his first appearance of the season on Friday, Goodwin opened the scoring with an unstoppable far post header.
Two minutes later he showed more predatory finishing instincts and great composure as he slid the ball past the Sydney goalkeeper after being put through.
Goodwin made plenty of positive impressions as a 16-year-old last season when he tallied three starts and came off the bench five times.
Jets' coach Arthur Papas understood why some people were frustrated Goodwin hadn't been sighted until the Jets 17th game of this season's campaign, but said the teenager had a history of breaking down with injury.
"I'm just pleased for him because he's been working hard and he's had a lot of setbacks over the course of the last few months physically," Papas said.
"We've taken a long-term approach with him because I think that's a duty of care to a young talent.
"To make sure that we look after him, to not play a season, we want him to have the career.
"That's been the message from day one, and tonight when he was needed, he was outstanding.
"A lot of research went into what we're trying to do with Archie to give him that best chance to have a career and he's got a lot of work to do still.
"But he's shown that in the box he's deadly and he proved that tonight."
With Newcastle decimated by a COVID outbreak, injuries and international call-ups, Goodwin finally got his first ALM minutes of the season.
"Mentally, it was probably the hardest just because I was wanting to get back on the pitch but I physically couldn't," Goodwin told Paramount Plus.
"I've been training full on for the last two months and just building myself back to this type of environment."
Goodwin, who was substituted in the 66th minute, was hungry for more playing time.
"I want to be playing as much as I can and get as many minutes into my legs so I'm physically fit to get through the whole of this season," Goodwin said.
Two goalkeepers down, Papas revealed he had defender Riley Warland earmarked as the back-up shot stopper until the club signed Broadmeadow Magic custodian Nate Cavaliere a few hours before the game.
Papas wasn't sure how many players he would get back for Wednesday's away clash with Perth, but said midfielder Angus Thurgate would definitely return after being managed for Friday's game.
The win moved Newcastle three spots up to seventh, but Papas wasn't talking about a finals push despite the fact the Jets have played less games than several of the teams above them on the ladder.
