New Perth signing Jacob Burns believes a successful season with the Glory is essential if he and fellow Qantas Socceroo Mile Sterjovski are to go to the World Cup finals next year.
Speaking after his first training session in Perth, Burns said playing in the Hyundai A-League should increase his chances of national selection as it’s easier for Australian coach Pim Verbeek to see him perform than when he played for Romanian side Unirea Urziceni.
But the 31-year-old is well aware the flip side to the extra exposure is that he and Sterjovski have to ensure the Glory are serious contenders this season, if they’re to come figure in Verbeek’s squad for South Africa.
“I think Pim’s always picked his team based on how players are playing,” Burns said on Monday.
“Being fit, that’s been a main point. Guys can be in any league in any club, even the top clubs, but if they’re playing for the reserves or they’re not getting any game time then he doesn’t play them.”
“So for all of us that are involved in the Socceroos, I think it’s a good for Pim to be able to see us week in, week out.”
“A lot of the time, just the logistics of it all, he can’t see us all over in Europe, so I think it’s a good opportunity to show what you’ve got, show that you’re in form.”
“We’ve (Burns, Sterjovski and new Gold Coast singing Jason Culina) got a lot of experience, we’ve been a part of the set for the last year and a half with the qualifications, so it’s all about form and match fitness really.”
“And I think if we’re doing well (as a team) then hopefully we reap the benefits,” he said.
Burns said he’d also done his bit to convince fellow Qantas Socceroo Chris Coyne to sign for the Gory this season after the club offered him a three-year contract two weeks ago.
Colchester United captain Coyne is expected to notify the club on Monday night regarding his intentions, but it seems likely he won’t be returning to his native Perth as he’s fielded offers from Europe and the Middle East.
“Yeah I have (spoken to him),” Burns said. “Chris is a fantastic player. He’s done a great job with the Socceroos and he’s had a great career over there as well.”
“It’d be another great addition to the side and we could benefit from his experience.”
“So I have had a chat to him and said, ‘what’s going on, come on get back here.’ but he’s got to make up his own mind and he’s got other circumstances.”
On his own move back to Australia after nine years in Europe playing for Leeds, Barnsley, Wisla Krakow and Unirea, Burns said there were numerous reasons to return.
“I think that with Mile coming back and Toddy (Andy Todd) over here, Dave Mitchell being the coach and knowing Perth, I wanted to put something back into the Hyundai A-League really.”
“It was tough towards the end of my year stint in Romania and it was a good time to come back and I think I’m the right age too,” he said.
