Promising Sydney youngster Chris Payne is determined to use this year’s pre-season as a way of cementing his place in the Sky Blue’s starting line-up for the up and coming Hyundai A-League season.
Payne was one of the standouts in Sydney’s trial win over the Sydney Tigers last Wednesday, and with his form improving each week, he’s excited about the new season.
“Last year I wasn’t here for the pre-season so I missed a lot,” he said.
“This year I’ve been here from the start, I’m playing with more confidence and I’m happy where I am at the moment.”
After making his debut in last year’s opening round match against the Melbourne Victory, 18-year-old Payne spent most of the season in the National Youth League playing an integral part of Sydney’s Championship winning side and is now looking forward to more first-team football.
“It didn’t really pan out exactly how I’d hoped, the first season, but it was good to get a bit of experience. My contract finishes at the end of the season so hopefully I’ll have a good year,” he said.
Payne gets his chance to further impress new head coach, Vitezslav Lavicka, when the Sky Blues travel to Asquith on Wednesday night for a trial against State Super League side, the Northern Tigers.
