Newcastle Jets head coach Branko Culina is continuing his search for a new goalkeeper to serve as number two to Ben Kennedy.

The A-League club may be without back-up stopper Neil Young for about three months of next season as he recovers from illness and surgery stemming from a broken nose and an allergic reaction to medication last term.

Culina has invited former North Queensland Fury gloveman Paul Henderson and ex-Brisbane Roar keeper Griffin McMaster for a trial and has insisted that he wants a player who will actually push Kennedy for the number one spot.

"I don't want numbers, I want someone who can genuinely vie with Kennedy for the No.1 spot," Culina told the Newcastle Herald.

"We'll have a closer look at them over the next couple of days. Our goalkeeping coach Bob Catlin is coming on Saturday to have a session with them, so we'll be guided by what he has to say as well."