Before a ball was kicked in anger this season, the whispers about talented Newcastle Jets youngster Oliver “Oli” Cockle were impressive.
Now, the teenager – listed in the A-League’s “Wonderkid Watch” in June – is likely to get a chance to show his wares on the big stage after being named in Mark Milligan’s extended squad for this weekend’s clash with the Wellington Phoenix.
Born in the Cayman Islands, the 17-year-old made his mark at Cooks Hill United before joining the club’s Academy.
Aside from a brief stint with the Broadmeadow Magic, Cockle has progressed through the ranks, eventually catching the eye of the Socceroos legend and his coaching staff.
“Oli doesn’t give away much, but he’s over-the-moon [about his selection],” Milligan said.
“He speaks more with his actions.
“But, we had our football ops Adrian check in with him on Thursday to make sure he had a passport and was ready to go.
“That was the first hurdle.
“Then, I just had a chat to him this morning (Friday).
“Oli was one we brought in from the beginning of pre-season… and has been fantastic.
“His work ethic and the way he takes on information is excellent.
“Even though he came off a long NPL season, we were able to give him a little bit of a break early.
“However, he’s been back for about a month-and-a-half.
“So, he has done everything right.
“And, we believe with this Wellington match, it’s a good game that will suit a player with Oli’s attributes.
“He deserves this little reward.
“It’s not a token gesture by any means, he’s earned it.”
Milligan has shown in the past he’s not afraid to place his confidence in youth.
And, Cockle’s the latest local lad to win his trust.
“He’s very direct for a young player,” he said.
“Oli wants to get in behind [the defence] and put himself in goalscoring positions.
“That’s the best thing we’ve had from him.
“We’ve got guys like Dobbo (Will Dobson) and Eli (Adams) who like to receive the ball in the pockets and play as extra attacking midfielders.
“Then we have Oli and Clayton (Taylor), both equally valuable to us.
“He’s still very much an unknown to a lot of opposition sides.
“We just think, with what he’s done over the past few weeks, this weekend is a good fit for Oli.”
Newcastle is keen to return to the A-League Men’s (ALM) winner’s circle at Sky Stadium on Sunday 14 December following a narrow 1-0 loss to Melbourne City in sweltering conditions.
“I can’t be disappointed with that performance,” Milligan admitted.
“There are a lot of very good teams… but Melbourne has shown that quality for a number of years.
“We created so many opportunities; however, if you want to be competitive, you need to nail those moments.
“So, the big positive for me is we’re creating them with the way that we’re playing football.
“Let’s see how we’re placed in three, or four, weeks’ time.
“Obviously, we don’t like losing.
“And, that’s good.
“Because the boys are disappointed with the result signifies it means something to them.
“So, I expect to see a reaction against the Phoenix.
“Everything we’ve witnessed from them, they haven’t shifted too much.
“Wellington did a few things differently against Auckland FC, but that’s a derby fixture.
“I think the key for us, and a good barometer in terms of the game, is if we know we have opposition adjusting to what we’re doing, then we’re on the right path.
“But, ne need to get the rewards for the work that we put in.”
For more sports stories:
- GALLERY… Young gun Jesse Linden outshines stars at The Jack
- The ‘hunted’ Pickers eye off fifth straight NEWRL title
- GALLERY… Maitland to host NEWRL’s Magic Round in 2026
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
