The youngster has long been hailed as 'the next big thing' of Australian football and he was even recognised at senior international level by former Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink.

But after a spell with Benfica and then a frustrating time at Melbourne Victory last season, Patafta is now looking to kick on again with Gary van Egmond's Newcastle Jets.

The 19-year-old told au.fourfourtwo.com: "It's been easy to settle in here, big time. The coach, Mark Jones, the boys have all been great and the city of Newcastle as well. It's been an easy transition."

After all the early adulation, Patafta discovered that the switch from junior star to senior pro is not always an easy one.

Not getting game time at Benfica or Victory was a bit of a shock to the system but he has tried to take the positives from the situation.

He said: "It’s changed my view on the game a bit. As a youth player everything sort of kept happening for me in the right direction, I was always playing and everything was fine. Making that transition to senior football I think you do have to take a step back for a bit.

"I think it will help me in the long run. I think every player has to go through some sort of hardship to realise how much you actually want the game and how much you want to be a top player.

"It makes you appreciate that you have to look at yourself, look at your game and realise that not everything just ‘happens."

Patafta's past triumphs will never leave him but it's the future that concerns him.

"I’ll always keep those past achievements with me but I see that that that was my youth football. I achieved what I wanted to and now it's really about achieving in the senior game. This is where it counts now, this is your career in a proper sense.

"I’ve worked out in my own mind that I have to start again, almost start fresh and really prove myself at senior level.

"It is about playing consistently. With that comes confidence and the ability to really believe in your game and to show not only yourself but everybody what you can do. It’s hard coming on last 10 minutes and trying to push it, just getting five touches.

"Unfortunately, if you’re playing 90 minutes or five minutes people still going to judge whatever time your on the pitch. But yeah, consistency," he said.

Patafta still dreams of playing for his country but isn't going to let it dominate his thoughts.

He said: "The international stuff is always in the back of my mind but I think you have to be realistic and you have to take things one step at a time. Get on the pitch and play for your club first."