To see today's trial match...

The teenager missed today's trial game at Budgewoi against Central Coast Mariners due to school commitments, that and he was nursing a slight knock.

Kantarovski was a huge plus for Newcastle in a disappointing season and now the 17-year-old finds himself preparing to taste life under Pim Verbeek.

Jets boss van Egmond is delighted to see Kantarovski get the call and doesn't believe it will suddenly see the player get carried away.

He said: "We've been saying for a while that he's a player with a lot of potential. But it's still potential. I spoke to Pim Verbeek last night. Ben is the 'one extra' in the squad as such. Pim wants to have a look at him. He's got good reports from myself, Arnie and he wants to see the boy in action in the Socceroos group.

"I'm very happy for him. It's important for him to keep his feet on the ground. He's obviously doing well for such a young age.

"He's a pretty humble sort of a boy and if he starts to show signs (of getting carried away) there's a few boys here who'll chop him down to size pretty quick.

"He had a bit of a problem with his knee today, same with Adam Griffiths, so we weren't going to risk it."

It has been a happy few days for Ben, having been named the club's player of the year over the weekend.

New signing Nikolai Topor-Stanley is also included in Verbeek's squad for the Kuwait clash. Speaking after the trial match against Central Coast Mariners - his debut outing - the former Perth Glory man said: "I only had my first session yesterday and my first game today so it's early doors. But it was positive and I got a good 90 minutes, even though it was blistering hot."

To see today's trial match...