How the Newcastle Jets helped Valentino Yuel rescue his A-League career

Just a few months ago, Valentino Yuel had no idea if he still had a future in professional football.

His club, Western United, told him his services were no longer required after he failed to score a single goal in his first A-League season.

There was not much he could do except go home to his family in Adelaide and try to pick himself up.

“I just kept on training and went home to Adelaide as soon as we finished. I stayed with my family and just tried to get my confidence back, because my confidence did drop a fair bit.”

It’s hard to believe Yuel had ever questioned himself, now that the 26-year-old is the top scorer for Western’s rival club the Newcastle Jets, and one of the A-League’s top strikers.

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Jets coach Craig Deans handed Yuel a lifeline late last year with an offer to trial with the Hunter Valley club, which led to a two-year deal.

“I had to show that I was better than what I’d showed the previous year with Western United,” he said.

Newcastle took a gamble by signing a forward that had yet to prove he could score goals at the top level.

But with three goals from Yuel in his last three games, and a starring performance in the club’s maiden win of the season over the Wellington Phoenix, it’s a gamble that’s paid off.

Yuel credits the Jets free-flowing playing style as well as the city’s laidback vibe for helping him to reach his potential.

“You can say there’s not as many distractions,” he said.

“I pretty much grew up in Adelaide. Adelaide’s a lot more like Newcastle where it’s pretty relaxed. You know Melbourne’s a lot busier and there’s a lot going on.

Yuel, one of many Australian footballers with African heritage making waves in the A-League, has ambitions to represent the Socceroos.

He arrived in Adelaide at the age of 10 after his family fled war in South Sudan.

“I was born in Kenya, grew up there in the camps. That’s pretty much where I started playing football … with my friends.

“It really helped me adjust to the culture here in Australia.”