He came back from a triumphant Asian Cup campaign only to find he’d lost his Sydney FC starting spot, now Terry Antonis is determined to get it back.
The 21-year-old midfielder came on as a late substitute to clinch the stunning winner for Sydney FC in their dramatic 4-3 victory over fierce rivals Western Sydney on Saturday night.
“I was excited to just come on the pitch and play in the derby,” Antonis told AAP on Sunday.
“I came on just hoping I could do my best and help the boys.
“I was so happy to score but more than anything it was great to get the three points.”
With Mickael Tavares suspended for the Sky Blues’ clash with Newcastle on Friday after his late sending off in the derby, the door has opened for Antonis to reclaim his spot in the starting line-up.
The young gun was a permanent fixture in Graham Arnold’s XI early this season and earned a Socceroos call-up on the back of a barnstorming few months in the A-League.
But having not kicked a ball for the entire Asian Cup, Antonis returned to his club lacking match fitness.
That, combined with impressive performances from the likes of new Senegalese recruit Tavares, Milos Dimitrijevic and Chris Naumoff relegated the midfielder to the bench for three of the last four games.
It was something Antonis admits was difficult to take.
“It was a bit difficult,” he conceded.
“But you’ve just got to keep working hard and do what the coach says.
“You can’t always think you’ve just got your spot. It’s good to have competition on the team.”
Arnold hinted Antonis would slot straight back into his midfielder starting role next week.
But the youngster, who hasn’t played a full 90 minutes since Sydney’s 3-0 loss to Adelaide on December 26, isn’t getting ahead of himself.
“It would be great to start and get the 90 minutes under my belt but you’ve just got to wait till he (Arnold) names the final squad,” he said.
“But whether you start or not, you’ve always got to play like it’s your last game.”
Gareth
Guest
I think the main reasons he was left out was because a) he hasn't played 90 minutes since December when he went into camp, and b) he missed the restructuring of the team that occurred when Tavares was signed. He will be back in next week though and I expect he will stay
Franko
Guest
The point remains the same regarding Dimitejevic. On the one hand he's calling for FFA intervention to ensure Socceroos players (or those on the fringe) are getting regular game time, whilst at the same time benching his own young starlet for a 30+ year old foreigner who no doubt won't be in the country in a couple of years. Antonis showed at the weekend his talent, with Bresc stepping aside it's a great chance for him to step up.
The Auteur
Guest
Because Antonis and Dimitejevic don't provide that defensive steel. They're more creative players.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Brilliant footballer. He was running circles around my boys on the weekend. It's good that he is being pushed to fight for his starting spot. But I'll be surprised if he doesn't end up in Europe next off season.
jamesb
Guest
Why did Arnold sign Taveres where he had Antonis? Is it all about depth?
punter
Guest
Franko, think Antonis is one for the future for Socceroos, one of my favourites & hope he gets game time. However, it's not Travers, the 32 year old French/Senegal player, he is competing against. It's the Serbian & Brosque, further up the park.
Franko
Guest
Interesting that in July last year Arnold was calling for a special cap to help fringe Socceroos players get a game in the A-League: “FFA need to look at something to help Australian players who overseas aren’t getting games if they want to come home in a loan deal situation,” Yet he has one in his side and for the last month has been selecting a 32 year old French / Senegalese instead of his very own 21 year old local who is desperate for games. Hopefully Antonis is first choice from here on, the kid has talent but at his age it is critical he plays week-in-week out. In Europe (if he were first XI) he'd be getting 50-60 games a year.