Goals in a day's work for Jets' Trifunovic

It's a key part of any football team's game that Newcastle sorely missed last A-League season, but the goals are finally rolling in thanks to new Serbian target man Milos Trifunovic.

Trifunovic has been in Australia just more than a month but has wasted no time putting his stamp on the competition, netting three of the Jets' six goals this season.

While there have been some shaky moments, the 31-year-old's contributions have been mostly clinical and classy.

The latest demonstration came last Friday, when he stunned Melbourne City with a second-half brace to hand his new side a shock comeback 3-2 win.

It's helped steer a reinvigorated Newcastle to three wins from four matches - the same number of victories they managed all last season in the back end of the dysfunctional Tinkler era.

But a clue to his prowess up front is perhaps in Trifunovic's general directness.

Ask him if he expected success and high praise from coach Scott Miller so quickly, and the No.9's answer is simple.

"My role in the team as a striker is to score goals," Trifunovic said.

"Of course it's much easier for myself and my nerves when I started giving goals."

Trifunovic averaged roughly a goal every three games over the past five years of his career at clubs in China, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and played alongside Sydney FC compatriot Milos Dimitrijevic at Serbian heavyweights Red Star Belgrade.

The language barrier in Australia presents obvious obstacles with teammates and he has leaned on fellow Serbian Enver Alivodic for support. But ultimately he is content to speak the universal language of football.

If anything, Trifunovic admits it will take more time to adjust to the A-League's slower pace and the Jets' more defensive style, a journey he will continue on Saturday when he attempts to hit the back of the net again at home against Western Sydney.

Defender Daniel Mullen has been ruled out of the clash with a knee injury suffered while training during the week, with youngster Lachlan Jackson likely to play centre-back in his place.

However, the team could regain Brazilian playmaker Leonardo, who has been named in the squad for the Hunter Stadium fixture after missing the triumph over City with a knee problem of his own.