Adam Taggart returns on Sunday to McDonald Jones Stadium, where he has scored more goals than any current A-League player.

When Adam Taggart returns on Sunday for the first time in enemy colours, the Newcastle Jets might well find their home-ground “advantage” under siege.

In two seasons with the Jets, before stints abroad with Fulham and Dundee United, the electrifying striker scored 18 goals – 16 of them in his Golden Boot-winning 2013-14 campaign. At Turton Road, he has found the net 13 times in 26 games, including a memorable hat-trick against Melbourne Heart and three doubles.

Only former Jets talisman Joel Griffiths (17 goals in 38 games) has a better record on Newcastle’s home turf.

Since returning to the A-League with his original club, Perth Glory, the 23-year-old has shown glimpses of the form that earned him a berth in Australia’s 2014 World Cup squad.

He scored a double against the Mariners in the season-opener, then missed six games with injury.

Since returning, he has strung together three goals in his past four games and judging by this comment during the week – “I wouldn’t swap a Perth Glory player for one of the Newcastle players” – he would appear to have rediscovered his swagger.

Speaking to the Perth media this week, Taggart suggested this season was a case of rebuilding himself physically and mentally after two frustrating years in the United Kingdom.

"I came back here to get a good run of games and find my love for the game again," Taggart said. 

"Especially over the last couple of months, I've been able to stay fit and play regular football and even just being back in my home town, where I can play in front of family and friends again.

"Having a win on the weekend [against Adelaide], I think that's sort of topped the last month off." 

He is in no mood for sentimentality on Sunday when he plays the club at which he made a name for himself.

"There's a job that needs to be done and, like I said, it's great that we got the win but we really need to carry it on,’’ he said. “There's no time to celebrate over one win.

“There's still a lot of room to grow and I think Newcastle is a great opportunity to go and get a win, start a run and then we come back to another game that's going to be a massive test for us." 

Jets coach Mark Jones said Taggart was far from Perth’s only weapon up front.

“He’s no different to [Andy] Keogh or [Chris] Harold,’’ Jones said.

“They’ve got plenty of threats, as every team has.

“He’s another good player, and we have to keep an eye on him, but if you pay too much attention to him and allow the others any latitude, you do that at your peril.’’