RUBEN Zadkovich loves a challenge.
After starting in his first match in six months, the explosive former Olyroo has set his sights on the most hotly contested spot at the Newcastle Jets - the midfield partner for Kasey Wehrman.
And given Zadkovich's eye-catching effort in the 1-0 loss to Brisbane Roar at Port Macquarie on Sunday, coach Branko Culina may find it tough to leave him out.
Zadkovich, 24, was to be used from the bench in his second appearance after ankle and wrist injuries in the pre-season. But Michael Bridges's late withdrawal due to illness forced a rethink and Zadkovich was pitched into a starting XI for the first time since playing a friendly for English side Doncaster against Hull in January.
Despite the lay-off, he got through 70 minutes, was strong on the ball, made crunching tackles and fired a couple of shots on target.
"I have a bit of general soreness, which is to be expected, but the ankle and the wrist held up fine," Zadkovich said yesterday.
"It was good just to be out there tackling, playing alongside my teammates and giving 100 per cent."
After playing 30 minutes against Sydney United, Zadkovich had expected to play a half against Brisbane but "I felt pretty good and got through to 70 minutes".
Zadkovich, a major recruit with Wehrman, Jeremy Brockie and yet-to-arrive Chinese striker Zhang Shuo, has been somewhat of a Mr Fix-It throughout his career.
He played right fullback for the Olyroos at the Beijing Olympics, was a box-to-box midfielder at Derby County and is comfortable on the left side of defence or as a wide running midfielder.
But his first choice is the centre of midfield, where at the Jets he is up against Ben Kantarovski, Jobe Wheelhouse and Italian Marcello Fiorentini.
"I welcome the challenge," Zadkovich said.
"Kasey is obviously the No.1 holding midfielder but it's good to have that competition.
"The harder we push each other the better. It's good for the team.
"I'm pretty versatile, so I can shuffle around a little bit but if I'm in the centre of midfield that would be ideal."
Kantarovski, a standout in the opening three Jets trials, is on Young Socceroos duty in Vietnam and is due to return on Sunday.
Wheelhouse, who is coming back from injury, was used in a forward role against the Roar. Fiorentini is finding his feet and has had limited opportunities.
Zadkovich, apart from displaying his ball-winning capabilities, pushed forward in attack at every opportunity.
"It's good playing alongside Kasey," he said.
"He is a very good distributor of the ball and he patrols the deep holding midfield area very well.
"He is a big man to get past and it gives you the confidence to go forward when you know he is sitting in behind."
The Jets will finish preparations for the A-League opener against Adelaide (August 6) with a trial against NSW Premier League outfit Rockdale in Sydney tomorrow night.
Jets keeper Neil Young was released from hospital yesterday and said he was felling "much better".
Young had surgical reversal of his colostomy bag last week.
He left hospital on Thursday but was admitted again on the weekend after having trouble retaining fluid.
The Jets and Northern NSW Football will announce a new formal partnership today aimed at improving the sport at the grassroots.
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