Mile Jedinak has been Australia’s standout performer in the past year and is a great choice to lead the Socceroos at the upcoming World Cup.
Jedinak has been given the armband for the friendly with Ecuador at the Den. While the tough midfielder only has it for one game at this stage, you could easily see him keeping the position.
Jedinak has blossomed as a player over this season. After helping Crystal Palace into the Premier League, he has led their battle to stave off relegation.
While it is hardly been easy for the south London club, they continue to fight and a glimmer of hope has emerged in recent weeks. The Eagles just may avoid the drop.
Front and centre in every Premier League clash has been Jedinak.
The tall, defensive mid has not shirked the fight and led Palace with aplomb. In December, his displays earned him a new three-and-a-half-year deal with the club.
Praised by the English press, the western Sydney local was complimented extensively by Ange Postecoglou yesterday.
“It’s a reward for him,” Postecoglou said.
“He’s playing in one of the toughest leagues in the world, captaining his club side, playing well. I think he’s an outstanding candidate to lead us tomorrow night and that’s what will happen.”
Postecoglou declined to confirm Jedinak will keep the captaincy beyond the Ecuador match.
“Beyond that, Mile’s in the same boat as everyone else. He needs to continue to play well and continue to show the form. From my perspective he’s one of our key players going into this World Cup because he’s one of the few we have playing at the highest level.
“He’s a very experienced player. He’s a worthy candidate for the captaincy and I’m looking forward to seeing him lead tomorrow night.”
With Lucas Neill’s odds of being in Brazil shortening week-by-week, Jedinak is looking a good bet to be the continual Socceroo skipper.
At 29, Jedinak is entering the prime of his career.
The only Australian player to rack up regular minutes in the Premier League this season, he should have another World Cup in him after this one. He has grown over the past three years to become one of the Socceroos most important players.
There are few certain picks under Postecoglou’s new-styled national team but ‘Jedi’ is one of them.
Taking over from Lucas Neill, Jedinak becomes the 55th captain of the Socceroos. He joins an illustrious list, including Joe Marston, Johnny Warren, Peter Wilson, John Kosmina, Charlie Yankos, Paul Wade, Alex Tobin, Paul Okon, Mark Viduka and Neill.
There are some great players there and some wonderful leaders. Jedinak has the potential to join those ranks.
Not everyone is made for captaincy. Some great Socceroos – Brett Emerton, Vince Grella, Josip Skoko, Frank Farina, Harry Kewell – only wore the armband for a few games each, for a variety of different reasons.
But Jedinak is a steely individual who leads by example. He’s experienced on the world stage and now has 42 national team caps.
Michael John Jedinak is excellent captaincy material and just could be the Socceroos skipper for many years to come.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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