Mark Natta is dreaming of one day representing the Socceroos, but first he is focused on performing for Newcastle Jets so he can earn a spot with the Olyroos at the 2024 AFC Under-23 Asian Cup.
Natta has impressed at the heart of Newcastle’s defence this season, starting all five matches and scoring his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal.
The 21-year-old has established himself with the Jets since arriving from Western Sydney Wanderers at the start of 2022-23.
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He was a late call-up to the Olyroos for their international friendlies in the Middle East earlier this month, replacing injured Adelaide United defender Alexander Popovic and he started in the 2-1 win over Qatar.
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The Olyroos will face hosts Qatar, Jordan and Indonesia at next year’s U23 Asian Cup, which is rescheduled to run from April 15 to May 3, and Natta is hoping to be on the plane.
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“Playing for your national team is the dream and end goal,” Natta told reporters, with the Jets scheduled to host three-time reigning premiers Melbourne City on Saturday.
“To be able to hopefully a good season with the Jets here and play my game and get called up would be nice.”
Natta made his debut as an 18-year-old for Western Sydney in 2021 and he has continued to go from strength to strength.
At the time, the rookie centre-back even caught the eye of Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold.
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“I mention him because he’s a kid that’s come from nowhere over the last five months so you imagine what he can be like further down the future,” Arnold told SEN’s The Global Game two years ago.
Preparing to host the league’s all-time leading goalscorer Jamie Maclaren and City, Natta was asked about the Socceroos dream.
“That’s what everyone dreams of as a kid growing up in Australia,” he said.
“But have to focus on the club and stuff like that will come if it comes.”
Despite his relatively young age, the Olyroo is one of the senior figures in Newcastle’s defence, having amassed 48 A-Leagues appearances.
“We have a very young backline. I’m trying to take on a more senior role in the back, and lead them,” he said.
“I’m very fortunate to have played as many games as I have at my age. Be in a more responsible role at the back is something I want to do and happy to do.”
His status as one of the league’s most talented young defenders comes after he was making his name in a different sport during his younger years.
Natta was a baseball prospect and even travelled to the United States.
“When I was younger I used to play soccer in the winter and baseball in the summer and our team ended up winning the national championship so we got to go overseas and play in America which was very exciting,” Natta told Sporting News previously.
“It was incredible, the American fans over there absolutely love their baseball. They were treating us like superstars at 12 years old which was quite funny but it was a good experience.
“When I joined the Wanderers academy at 13, 14 I stopped baseball and focused 100 per cent on soccer. It wasn’t easy but if I had to pick one it was always going to be soccer. It was my favourite sport since I started playing when I was five.”
