JETS coach Branko Culina believes Ali Abbas has the potential to be one of the A-League's genuine game-breakers, likening him to former golden boys Joel Griffiths and Nick Carle.
In a major coup, Abbas put pen to paper on a new one-year deal with the Jets yesterday, in the process knocking back approaches from the Gold Coast and clubs in his homeland of Iraq.
Abbas's deal capped a meteoric rise for the 23-year-old winger, who created headlines when he and two other members of the Iraqi under-23 team fled the Mantra Resort in Ettalong seeking political asylum after losing to the Olyroos in an Olympic qualifier at Gosford in 2007.
The Jets still have eight places to fill on their 23-man roster, but they have plenty of room to move under the salary cap.
"We are committed to building a team for the Newcastle people that they can be proud of and one that will have them turn up in their droves," Jets CEO John Tsatsimas said.
Abbas said in the end it was an easy decision to stay.
"The first time I came up here, I didn't know anyone," he said.
"The club, the people have given me so much support.
"I have another family here now."
Abbas, who lost his father in a bomb blast in Baghdad, is now an Australian citizen.
Abbas played with Marconi in the NSW Premier League last season before being picked up by the Jets as an injury replacement for Shaun Ontong.
The left-sided specialist made an eye-catching debut off the bench against Sydney in round seven but was mainly used as an impact player until late in the season.
"Ali was one of the really positive things to come out of the final third of the season," Culina said.
"There are a still a couple of things he needs to work on. He needs to score more goals and he needs to be a little bit more direct and go at players.
"If he does that, he has the makings of being a real exciting player in the A-League.
"The Jets have had players like that in the past and benefited from it. People like Nicky Carle, who used to beat players with ease. Joel Griffiths with his dribbling and speed. Even Milton Rodriguez, he was able to beat players. "
Given little hope at the start of the season, the Jets punched above their weight but, with Fabio Vignaroli and Michael Bridges sidelined, lacked the class to go all the way.
And with Matt Thompson and Song Jin-hyung departing, the Jets are in need of an attacking spark.
"If you look at the two teams playing the grand final on Saturday, Melbourne and Sydney, they have that X-factor," Culina said.
"Melbourne have it with Archie Thompson and Carlos Hernandez, Sydney have Brosque, Bridge and earlier on Corica.
"Every team who is going to be a top team requires that.
"This year we had a good side but didn't have a game-breaker. We hope that Ali, and a couple of others, can do that for Newcastle."
Abbas's signature leaves defender Ljubo Milicevic as the remaining target on the Jets' retention list.
"The talks are positive with Ljubo but until he puts pen to paper, we don't know," Culina said.
"But all going well and Ljubo re-signs with us and is healthy, it would be like having another player.
"He was good this season but he can be even better.
"With Nikolai [Topor Stanley] growing in stature and [goalkeeper] Ben Kennedy with a year under his belt, it is quite exciting."
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