FROM running box-to-box to watching from the sidelines - Angus Thurgate saw the Newcastle Jets recent busy schedule from almost every angle.
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Last Sunday's 0-all draw with Adelaide United wrapped up a tiring period that saw the Jets play four games in 12 days and travel almost 18,000 kilometres.
The 19-year-old came on as an impact player in the Jets Asian Champions League extra-time win over Persija Jakarta on February 12 when temperatures nudged 40 degrees.
"I was definitely tired after (the Indonesian) one because it was very hot, but I guess the pace of the game was a lot slower compared to the A-League," Thurgate said.
Three days later he made his run-on debut in the club's 3-1 victory over Melbourne City before the team jumped on a plane the next morning and headed to Japan.
"It's been a bit hectic really," he said of the past fortnight.
"It's been a good experience for me going over to Japan (as well as) playing against the Indonesian team and I've been trying to take as much as I can away from it.
"It's good in a way to see it from different angles and take away different bits of information and advice."
It's been a good experience for me going over to Japan (as well as) playing against the Indonesian team and I've been trying to take as much as I can away from it.
- Angus Thurgate
The Jets attacker said the match against Melbourne City required a slightly different preparation and mindset to what he was used to.
"It was a lot different than coming off the bench because you have to get straight into it and there's much more focus you put on that game," he said.
The Port Macquarie product admitted he was fortunate to have little trouble playing two games in three days.
"I was alright, but a few of the other boys were worse than me having played the whole 120 minutes but I was happy to be playing consistent football," he said.
"It was a great experience and hoping for many more appearances."
He played a significant role in the first two games before taking a back seat for the next two against Kashima Antlers (in Japan) and Adelaide United last weekend.
The Jets went down in a 4-1 defeat to Kashima on February 19 which saw them eliminated from the ACL.
Despite the result, the Port Saints junior watched the match from the bench and still learned plenty.
We could see that not only us, but the whole of Australia is a fair bit behind in the way we play and what we do.
- Angus Thurgate
"Sitting on the bench in Japan it was freezing, but it was good to see the style of play the Japanese have," he said.
"They're quick to close the opposition down with the ball and they're very sharp in everything they do.
"It was my second time to Japan and it's a great Asian country, but the detail in which they play at is remarkable.
"We could see that not only us, but the whole of Australia is a fair bit behind in the way we play and what we do.
"Ernie kept advising us to take something away from that game so it wasn't a waste of time."
Despite being five points outside the A-League top six with six rounds remaining, Thurgate said the Jets haven't given up hope of the finals.
"There's still plenty of football to be played," he said.
"In the A-League you can get surprise results every week so we just need to make sure we're picking up maximum points and put ourselves in the best position to get that finals spot."
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