Despite leaving the club, Daniel Georgievski will always respect Melbourne Victory

DANIEL Georgievski didn’t celebrate his brilliant goal against Melbourne Victory last month for one reason — the Jets centre back still holds his former club in the highest of esteem.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA — OCTOBER 15: Daniel Georgievski of the Jets is contested by the Glory defence during the round two A-League match between the Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory at McDonald Jones Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

IT is telling that Daniel Georgievski did not celebrate his stunning goal against Melbourne Victory last month.

But while he still holds the utmost respect for his former club, the enterprising fullback is equally as excited about the prospects of his new side, Newcastle, which on Friday night visits Melbourne for the first time since Georgievski left Victory at the end of last season.

In three years at Victory Georgievski won a championship and the Joe Marston Medal awarded to the most valuable player in last season's grand final, which Victory lost on penalties to Sydney FC.

The Macedonian international admits it was a strange experience lining up against his former teammates for the first time.

Georgievski had great success with the Victory.

"That was the first time I've ever played against an old team," Georgievski said.

"Overseas I never had that opportunity.

"Of course, I did want to show a lot of respect to Victory because I was there for a long time, I wanted to leave a nice legacy there and I had a lot of fun and good times there.

"I probably wouldn't even celebrate if I score the next time we play. I believe you have to show that respect."

To cap off the night, Georgievski was at the middle of a bizarre altercation with Victory midfielder Mark Milligan, which saw the 2014-15 championship-winning captain sent off for attempting to headbutt his former teammate.

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He then left the field in the second half with a knee injury and has not played again since.

Georgievski said he has not spoken to Milligan since that game, but said "I didn't feel threatened at all" and told Milligan on the night "if you need me to say something so you don't get four or five weeks (suspended) then I'll do it".

"It was just a spur of the moment thing that happens in games sometimes," he said.

But the knee strain he suffered in the second half on November 23 is all the more concerning and his chances of playing at AAMI Park remain clouded. "I'm not sure if I'll play yet, honestly," he said.

"Boxing Day and today were my first two full sessions with the team, so we'll see how it pulls up.

The Macedonian international has made a successful switch to the Jets.

"I don't want to say 'no', I don't want to say 'yes'.

"I want to play, of course, but the boys are doing so well, so you don't want to rush back for the sake of it and miss another month." Newcastle has been a revelation this season and currently sits second on the table on the back of a swashbuckling run of form that has seen the Jets net more goals than any other side in the competition.

But Georgievski is not surprised, even though the run of form has come at a time when key players such as Ronny Vargas and Roy O'Donovan have also been sidelined.

"The club was planning to make top three," he said.

"I believed it, with the players we had coming in, I knew we had the potential to do something special.

"The vibe is great, all the players have clicked."

Originally published as Despite leaving the club, Daniel Georgievski will always respect Melbourne Victory