While chuffed with his recent national call-up, teen sensation Will Dobson is keeping his eyes firmly on the immediate prize.
And, that’s knocking over A-League Men’s (ALM) rivals Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Sunday 22 March.
The 18-year-old midfielder and Newcastle Jets teammate Max Cooper were named in the Young Socceroos squad to face China later this month in the Friendship Series in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province.
It’ll give both youngsters the chance to test themselves at international level while representing their hometown on a global stage.
“Obviously, it’s a big thing,” Dobson said.
“I found out [about my selection] when I arrived at training… and Millsy (Mark Milligan) pulled me aside.
“I didn’t know what he was going to say.
“But, he told me I’d been picked in the Australian side to go to China and how important it was playing for your country.
“So, I’m really proud to be able to do that.
“And, to do it with Max is great.
“We’ve been close for a while, we came through the Academy together, so it’s very special.
“It’s always a goal to play for your country.
“However, it’s been in the back of my mind as I’ve been focused on what I’m doing here.
“But, if you’re doing well week-in week-out, the other stuff will come.”
Newcastle suffered its first defeat in 2026, 2-1 at the hands of Auckland FC, in round 21.
It narrowed the Jets’ lead at the top of the table to just a solitary point.
Dobson was philosophical about the result.
“That’s football,” he said.
“You’re going to win games, you’re going to lose games.
“Nothing’s really changed for us.
“We just wanted to get back in [at training], work harder and focus on this weekend.
“What we experienced, against Auckland, hasn’t knocked our confidence.
“Obviously, teams are seeing that we’re doing well, so they want to try and stop us from playing our style of football.
“It doesn’t bother me, especially the way that we play.
“We’re still quite a young group, so it’s a matter of learning from what we’ve done in the past, getting over those hurdles, and building for the future.
“Don’t forget, Auckland’s a good team; they’re second on the table for a reason.
“So, it was just another test for us.
“We’re coming up against a number of good sides.
“However, you want to play in those matches.
“It’s what we’re likely to encounter when the finals roll around.”
Newcastle is preparing for a further challenge in the shape of Sydney, sitting in third position, before a mid-week showdown with Macarthur FC.
“They’re another good team and we’ll show them the respect they deserve,” Dobson said.
“But, at the end of the day, we just want to go out, play our game… and win.
“I’m not too worried about what they’re thinking of – or what motivates them.
“Everyone has their reasons to win… so, we’ll head to Allianz and do our best.”
The fixture kicks off at 3pm.
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