“Obviously, we'd have liked him to have had more of an impact to date, but hopefully that's just around the corner,” club CEO John Tsatsimas admitted.

There have been reports in the press this week that one unnamed Jets player had described Jardel as a "liability". Jardel responded by saying if it was true, that the claim was "childish".

Quizzed on whether Jardel will play against Adelaide on Sunday, Jets coach Gary Van Egmond said he was still weighing up his options.

“We'll have to have a look at that," said Van Egmond. "We're still undecided which way we'll go.

"If we feel he'll be more effective starting or coming off the bench then that's what we'll do. And if we feel it's better he doesn't travel with us, then he won't.

“I think it's forecast to be very hot in Adelaide when we play them. So we have to make sure that those players who are involved in the game are physcially very fit.”

Asked whether, given the heat, Jardel would be a correct option for the undermanned Newcastle frontline, Van Egmond replied, “On face value you'd say no.

“We did tests this week on fitness and he didn't come out of it so well. He's never been a magnificent athlete like a Joel Griffiths, however we may be able to get some joy if he plays higher up the field.

“I guess the barrier has always been that he's not fluent in English. And it sort of goes both ways.

"The boys don't really get in conversations with him, as Mario doesn't get in conversations with the boys because of the language barrier.

“There's never anything untoward. On the training pitch, it's not as if he's not passing the ball to other players, or vice versa. It's business as usual. He talks to Denni but that's just part and parcel of it.”

Van Egmond also vented his frustration at the constant questioning about the club's star recruit.

“You guys [the media] talk about Mario every week and we're pretty well used to it now," he said. "I'm about as sick [of it] as you are asking me.”

Added Tsatsimas: “Mario's Mario. As far as we're concerned, he's a Newcastle Jets player. He's a player like any other player."

However, one player who definitely won't be travelling is Mark Bridge. The 22-year-old striker is in Gosford on Olyroo duty. Bridge's future at the Jets is also subject to some debate.

“Mark's been given extended time to consider our offer,” said Tsatsimas of contract negotiations.

“There were certain negotiations with my predecessor. I'm not sure where the issue lies, but that's an issue for Mark to deal with. We've made the offer and given him ample time.”