After a six-year stint in English League One, former Socceroo Joel Porter returns to the Gold Coast keen to impress and regain his gold jersey.
A deadly striker, Porter scored 23 goals in his final season with Hartlepool and has an impressive strike rate of five goals in four matches for his country.
And he would love to add to that tally.
“Being more visible when it comes to international honors is one of the reasons I have come back,” Porter said.
“I am 30-years-old now and hopefully I can give it one more push, and the fact that Australia is in the World Cup again in 2010 is an extra bonus.”
He agreed that with the changing of the guard in Australian soccer it was a good option to be in front of the selectors.
“Initially I went over to Europe to try and get my foot in the door with the Australian team, but at the moment it looks like the Australian based players are getting ample opportunity to play for the national team.”
On the end of a star-studded Gold Coast United line-up, Porter should get every chance to score goals and make Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek aware of his firepower.
“If things go the way I hope, I get games under my belt, get that partnership going with Shane (Smeltz) and get a few goals as well then you never know what will happen.”
The South Australian considered several career options before deciding to bring his family to the Gold Coast.
“When strikers score goals in England there is always talk of them going to bigger clubs, but then the opportunity came to go to the Gold Coast.”
“I spoke with Miron (Bleiberg) a couple of times, he came and watched me play and everything just felt right for me to come back.”
Bragging rights are on the line when Porter and Gold Coast United get their first full hit-out against fellow A-League inductees North Queensland Fury at Skilled Park on June 23.
