The bottom of the table Jets should see their talisman return next week for a clash with Queensland after a spell out following a red card against Phoenix in round 12.

The Jets simply must win to stay in touch with the four. And with just 12 points, some say it's impossible.

But goalscorer against Sydney FC, Jobe Wheelhouse, says if there's one man who can lead Newcastle out of the abyss, it's the 29-year-old star striker.

"Definitely he'll be that X-factor. A player of his calibre is good in any team but we'll welcome him back," he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"He's that lively force up front. And he has the ability and experience to chase people down.

"It makes it hard when you're chasing games at the end of the year. But we've got the team to do it and putting wins together."

Jets defender Adam Griffiths added that the Jets lacked experience in key positions on the park: "We've had bad discipline and it's cost us.

"We've had key players out for two matches [Joel Griffiths and Mark Milligan] and we need those players. And we don't have strength in the squad.

"Today underlined that for us. We didn't have anything and that's not to take away from the young boys because they did fantastic in the first half and totally dominated. But that's football."

Skipper Jade North noted that Griffths was able to get the side "out of a few situations" with his goalscoring: "It's hurt having Joel and Millsy [Mark Milligan] out but they're back next week which is a positive for us."

However coach Gary Van Egmond, while philosophical, sounded more like a coach with one eye on the 2009 ACL.

"Obviously mathematically it's possible, but you're going to need to go on some run to get into the top four," he said.

"You probably don't need as many points as last year because people will knock people off. But it's going to be tough."