Hero Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Kerala Blasters FC have acquired the services of Australian attacker Jaushua Sotirio from A-League side Newcastle Jets.

A versatile forward known to operate across the forward line, Sotirio has been a seasoned campaigner in the A-League, making 166 appearances in the league across three clubs - Western Sydney Wanderers, Wellington Phoenix, and Newcastle Jets. Plying his trade in the Australian top-flight league since the 2013-14 season, the forward has netted 27 goals and provided 10 assists in his 166 appearances in the league.

In his latest 2022-23 campaign with the Jets, the 27-year-old had seven goal involvements - three goals and four assists. However, his breakthrough came in the 2021-22 season with Wellington Phoenix where he scored six goals and provided three assists, and was the joint-top scorer for his side. So, what can they expect from Sotirio?

Positional versatility:

Under Ivan Vukomanovic, the Australian can be deployed in several roles because of his versatility of playing as a forward, winger, or even as an attacking midfielder. A traditional striker with the trait of getting in behind the defenders, the player can be used as a lone striker with the support of Sahal Abdul Samad or Rahul KP down the wings. 

Additionally, he can also be set up as a winger with Dimitrios Diamantakos taking up the striking role. Quick with his feet and known for link-up play, Sotirio can be threatening on the flanks and as such the team can be optimised with the creative output of Luna and the pace of Sotirio in the middle of the park.

With the inclusion of the Australian player, Vukomanovic can customise his preferred 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 to allow more interplay between the attackers in the final third.

Strengths: 

A player with excellent positional awareness, Sotirio’s greatest attacking threat comes in the form of pulling his markers away and finding empty spaces, be it inside the box or far wide near the touchline. While his physical strength may not be as good as the likes of Bartholomew Ogbeche, the striker doesn’t need much time to strike the ball behind the net once he sets himself up in an open position.

With his high acceleration and pace besides being a strong link-up player, the forward will be crucial when it comes to counter-attacking and can cause damage upfront when combined with Adrian Luna’s incredible creative output. 

Experienced campaigner:

During his time at Western Sydney Wanderers, the attacker was part of the squad for the AFC Champions League. Having made six appearances across three AFC CL seasons - 2014, 2015, and 2017 - Sotirio scored two goals in the side’s 2017 Champions League campaign. Stepping foot in the intra-continental territory, the forward can be a huge difference-maker on the field and can act as a role model for all the youngsters in the Blasters’ camp.