Van Egmond: Birighitti calamities forgotten

5 January 2013 02:33

Gary van Egmond says goalkeeper Mark Birighitti will not be looking for redemption when the Newcastle Jets host Adelaide United at Hunter Stadium.

Birighitti had a forgettable debut performance for the Jets against his old team in round one of the Hyundai 2012/13 season when he conceded a goal in the opening minute before being unceremoniously red carded later in the match for handing the ball outside of the area.

The 21-year-old has recently spent time on the sidelines with a fractured cheekbone after being kneed in the face by Phoenix striker Jeremy Brockie.

Either side of those setbacks, however, Birighitti has been in great form for the Jets and Van Egmond believes he will be focused more on maintaining his form rather than having something to prove against the Reds.

"I don't think it is a case that he has to look at this game in any special way, it is more a case of just building on his performances," Van Egmond said.

"I think this game is more so about Mark building on what he is doing in regards to his own game,

"He had a set back with the injury and obviously now he is getting more game time experience, so the more that occurs the better he will be."

Despite Birighitti's bright performances in goal the Jets are yet to keep a clean sheet this season and Van Egmond agrees team have had to work on their defence.

However, the coach said that work must be balanced with their overall shape and offensive focus.

"I am going to ask if the strikers of Adelaide won't score, maybe that will do the trick," Van Egmond joked.

"We are in a position where we will keep on working on our defence. But it can get to a position of players get too mindful and players become fearful of it.

"So it is something we has been identified but we aren't focusing wholly and solely on it because we will lose other aspects of our game."