The depleted Northcote City have been bolstered by the additions of attackers Braedyn Crowley and Keenan Gibson, and goalkeeper Blake Tuxford.
The 19-year-old Townsville born Crownley made his debut for City in last Friday night’s 3-0 defeat to Port Melbourne after arriving in Melbourne last week following the conclusion of the Jets A-League campaign.
The promising teenage forward first rose to prominence two years ago when he scored 17 goals in 23 games for the Northern Fury in the 2014 NPL Queensland under former A-League coach Ian Ferguson.
He was also crowned the 2014 NPL QLD Young Player of the Year.
That form earned him a move down south to the Newcastle Jets Youth team ahead of the 2014-15 National Youth League season, before subsequently making his senior team debut in February 2015 under Phil Stubbins in a 1-1 draw against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Hunter Stadium.
Eight further league appearances followed this season under new manager Scott Miller, with Crowley continuing to impress and score goals in the NYL.
Snaps from the pre-game here at #NEWvCOE. Jets warm-up, Vidmar addresses his boys, Braedyn Crowley in attendance. pic.twitter.com/YQRba3zYCB
— Newcastle Jets (@NewcastleJetsFC) December 12, 2015
The marksman is expected to fill the goalscoring void left up front by the departure of James Kalifatidis at the end of last season, with Northcote struggling to put the ball in the back of the net so far this season.
In nine competitive games, City have managed to score just twice – both Jonathan Bounas penalties – with no news yet on whether Calvin Mbarga will return to the club following complications at his Indian side Salgaocar.
Another debutant in the defeat at the hands of the Sharks was attacking midfielder Keenan Gibson.
The 18-year-old arrives after spending the last six months with Brisbane Roar Youth following previous stints with the Central Coast Mariners Youth and Sydney FC.
A Blacktown City junior, Gibson is the nephew of current Hawthorn AFL footballer and three-time Premiership winning defender Josh Gibson.
He had also trials line up at Middlesbrough and Shrewsbury Town in 2015.
Blake Tuxford has also joined Crowley and Gibson at City.
The 20-year-old had most recently been at the Jets for National Youth League season and had previously trained with the first team.
The goalkeeper also featured for Western Sydney Wanderers’ youth squad.
Blake Tuxford has been training with Western Sydney Wanderers | Local NSW News | http://t.co/vBcdtMucUE http://t.co/LkbXTElubQ
— Westfields Sports (@WestfieldsSport) February 10, 2014
The permanent additions of the three come as a boost to incoming returning manager Goran Lozanovski, who on Monday was announced as the club’s replacement to the recently departed Alex Gymnopoulos.
Northcote sit last on the NPL standings after a solitary point in eight games sees them six points off from safety as they host the Bulleen Lions this Saturday.
The club also confirmed that it has departed company with former Melbourne Victory winger Julius Davies, who did not make a single appearance for the 2013 VPL Champions.