Newcastle Jets defender Lachlan Jackson knows exactly what former teammate and Socceroos representative Andrew Nabbout is capable of.
Jackson saw Nabbout first hand for two A-League seasons on the training paddock at Ray Watt Oval and game day at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The 24-year-old also witnessed the World Cup player's double for new club Melbourne Victory against the Jets in the FFA Cup round of 32 in August.
But this Sunday, for the first time in A-League competition since leaving Newcastle to join Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds before the 2017-18 grand final, Nabbout is set to face off against the Jets with Jackson likely marking the Victory attacking weapon at some stage during the round 13 encounter at AAMI Park.
"What he's done is very impressive and his work ethic is second to none," Jackson told the Newcastle Herald. "All credit to him."
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Jackson said there's "a lot of ex-teammates throughout the A-League and this week is no different", also suggesting Nabbout had "not really" been singled out as a threat by the Jets this week.
Instead, saying "we've got to work on our own shapes".
Jackson, who is contracted until the end of 2020-21, has started for Newcastle in the last seven matches with captain Nigel Boogaard still out injured.
He has been partnering stand-in skipper Nikolai Topor-Stanley in the centre of defence, having been on the bench during the opening four rounds of the campaign.
"On a personal note it's been really nice having regular minutes and playing consecutive games," Jackson said. "I want to keep playing as much as I can."
The eighth-placed Victory (12 points) are coming off a bye after a 2-1 win over cross-town rivals City on December 21 while bottom-of-the-ladder Jets (9) drew 1-all with Brisbane at home on Saturday following heavy 6-2 and 4-0 losses to Perth and City respectively.
Jackson said if "we can get a few results" Newcastle were capable of moving "up the table" during the "back half of the season".
He's also pleased for "Mr 111 percent" Pat Langlois being on the verge of a new deal at the Jets.
Newcastle named an unchanged 18-man squad on Thursday.
Meanwhile, in the Northern NSW NPL former Kiwi international Leo Bertos has been appointed coach of the Weston Bears for 2020 with last season's mentor Kew Jaliens on the move.
Jaliens has told the Bears he plans to relocate back to Europe at some stage this year and can't commit to doing the job again.
He will likely assist Bertos until he departs.
Bertos, who holds an A Licence and will sit for his Pro Licence this year, represented the Kiwis on 56 occasions and played for Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix in the A-League before moving to Newcastle and joining with Hamilton Olympic.
He currently works for NNSW Football.
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