Swindon Town manager Mark Cooper wants Socceroos youngster Massimo Luongo to step up and become a leader at the English third-tier outfit.
The star midfielder has become a key player for the club, enough to attract interest from Championship side Rotherham in the off-season.
Luongo was a member of Australia’s World Cup squad in Brazil and made his international debut off the bench in March’s friendly loss to Ecuador.
Cooper has urged on the 21-year-old to be more vocal on the pitch when the 2014-2015 League One campaign kicks off next month.
“I think leaders are very short in supply in the modern game and invariably you have to pay a lot of money to get them,” the coach told the Swindon Advertiser.
“They’re usually 28 or 29 and you have to pay a lot of money to get them – so they might be a little too far out of our reach.
“Yes, we could probably do with a leader on the pitch but the boys that we’ve got have got to step up to the mark now.
“I would class Yaser (Kasim) as experienced, I’d class Mass (Luongo) as experienced, I’d class Wes (Foderingham) as experienced and Nathan (Thompson), so we’re looking for them to push on to become more vocal.”
Swindon will have one of the youngest squads in the division when the new season starts on August 9 against Scunthorpe at home.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Josh Brillante - 6 months ago playing for Newcastle Jets: mid-table ALeague. Today, a sweet strike to win the game for SerieA team Fiorentina in a friendly match in Peru. The arguments about "A-League doesn't have any quality" & "no Aussies are playing in the big leagues of Europe" are starting to lose all their weight. A-League haters will need to think of a new sneer. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/football/josh-brillante-continues-hot-start-at-fiorentina-with-cracking-winner-against-univeristario/story-fnii0fc3-1227011906978
Catnap
Guest
I will go on record and say if this kid is given a good chance I think he can star for the socceroos!!!!!
Bondy
Guest
Surely the A League would be better than the third tier of English Football, surely. I hope Luongo can get out of that league as quickly as possible good luck to him .