Pim Verbeek has named three potential debutants in his 22-man squad for the Socceroos clash with Ireland next Wednesday.
Most Australian’s will be familiar with former Perth Glory striker Nikita Rukavytsya, but the names Oliver Bozanic and Aaron Mooy may have a few people scratching their heads and asking who?
Here’s a quick rundown of the latest youngsters to burst in to the national squad.
Aaron Mooy
18 year-old Mooy is an exciting midfield prospect playing his football with English club Bolton Wanderers. Mooy relocated to the club as a 14 year-old after he was spotted while playing in Australia.
His selection is the most surprising of the three possible debutants and it comes after recently catching the eye of Pim Verbeek with a strong showing for the Young Socceroos.
He shone in the prestigious Terborg Toernooi tournament in Holland winning the player of the tournament award as the side finished third.
Mooy has also been making progress at club level, finishing last season as a member of the reserve side after stepping up from the academy side. In 2009/10 he is expected to be a key member of the reserves side and also push for a spot in the first team squad.
Bolton Academy boss Peter Farrell has recently described the 18 year-old as “a tremendous footballer” who “oozes class” and believes that he “stands out because of his technical ability and awareness on the ball.”
Oliver Bozanic
Some may remember 20 year-old Bozanic from his short pre-season stint with the Central Coast Mariners in 2006 but he is another who has been hiding in England for the past few seasons.
The son of former Socceroo Vic, who won four caps, Oliver signed for Reading in January of 2007 and since joining the club has been loaned to Woking and is currently loaned out to Cheltenham Town for the upcoming season.
Bozanic plays as an attacking midfielder mostly on the left side and is quickly gaining a reputation in England. After recently acquiring Bozanic on loan, Cheltenham Town boss Martin Allen described him as “a tidy left-sided player, he’s got good feed, is quite quick, gets good crosses in, can pass the ball and gives balance to the left.”
Capped eight times for the Young Socceroos, Bozanic also doesn’t mind a goal, scoring twice in his 18 game stint at Woking last season.
Nikita Rukavytsya
After making his name at Perth Glory, Rukavytsya has recently transferred to Dutch top league side FC Twente where he is managed by former England boss Steve McLaren.
The 22 year-old who also represented Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, recently made his Champions League debut for the Dutch club against Sporting Lisbon and could be the answer to the Socceroos lack of speed up front with his excellent acceleration.
Rukavytsya will be hoping his move to Holland will pay dividends with a seat on the plane to South Africa next year for the World Cup. He believes “if I can break through this year then I’m a chance because it would be a big step for me to be a first teamer at such a good club as Twente.”
After scoring on 16 occasions in his 42 Perth Glory appearances, Rukavytsya has already been on the score sheet for Twente and has been playing most of his football as a left-sided striker.
The Socceroos take on Ireland on Wednesday the 12th of August and even if the three youngsters don’t take to the field, the experience of being around the squad will be priceless.
melbvictory87
Guest
damn right spiranovic will. you know what???? i cant wait for the asian champions league,why? because our new superstars like vidosic, spiranovic and rukavytsya (very eastern european just like me) will be playing for our beloved national team. cant wait to see the new generation do the greatest country (australia) in the world proud!!!!!!!!! go the aussies!!! and long the the greatest league in the world, the mighty hyundai a-league
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I'm actually more interested in who is going to partner Neill at the back. Is this a chance for Spiranovic to have a start and make a claim?
Koala Bear
Guest
I can see Rukavytsya developing into a top notch striker if he can get away from that dill McMahon... ~~~~~~~~ KB
Alextman
Guest
If Rukavytsya gets even half-decent game time at Twente this season he will be on the plane to South Africa. He ticks all the boxes of what Pim would be looking for: A pacy striker who is playing in Holland. I notice he got a 30 minute run-out against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa league qualifier the other night, so it would appear would be in favour with McLaren.
Realfootball
Guest
Ghost, I think Holman's problem is that often when he comes on, he doesn't know which way we are kicking, which explains his frenetic energy to little purpose. Ruka, by contrast, knows where the goal is, runs towards it, and shoots at it, making care that the ball goes in the same direction. This is a very jaundiced view of Holman, of course, and I have seen him play well. But Ruka is in a different class altogether. I would be surprised if he isn't at a very big club by the age of 25.
Ghost
Guest
In other words Realfootball you see Ruka as a better Holman... ie one that can actually score as well as running around like a mad dog in the latter stages of a game?
Realfootball
Guest
The great thing about Rukavytsia is that he would let Pim change the way the teams plays by bringing him off the bench, because his pace adds a whole new element of pressure on the opposing defense. I can't imagine that he won't go to South Africa. Encouraging selections all round - shows that Verbeek is looking to add new X factor players to the potential World Cup squad. If Minniecon has a good season, he might get a runout too at some point. He certainly gave Fulham a torrid time.
melbvictory87
Guest
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RUKA!!!!!!!!!
Tom
Guest
Ruka might make an appearance, but I suspect the other two are in the squad mostly so Verbeek can get another look at them up close at training. Bozanic and Mooy both have the potential to have big seasons that could put them in world cup reckoning, even if they're not there now.
whiskeymac
Guest
nice summary
Midfielder
Guest
Old Scottish song .. all together now .. to the tune of Bring Back my Bonnie to me, to me Bring Back, Bring Back My Troisis for me, for me.
jaymz
Roar Rookie
I hope we play Nikita so we can lock him in before Ukraine realise what a class player he is. Also he could answer our striking problem, or at the very least be very effective off the bench (ala Kennedy at 06 world cup)
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
The Mooy write up sounds pretty exciting. Hope he gets some game time :)
Ghost
Guest
This to me is really exciting. We have our core team and the fringe blokes who various people are arguing for and against, either as the face of now or of the future. The future was already looking reasonably good and ourr national team was showing a depth that was really confidence inspiring. And now a new pair - one 18 and the other 20 - both attack minded midfielders and both recognised as talents in Europe to add to the mix? YEAH!