Qantas Socceroo Mark Milligan has ruled out a permanent return to the Hyundai A-League.
Qantas Socceroo Mark Milligan has ruled out a permanent return to the Hyundai A-League.
The JEF United defender is on loan with Melbourne Victory and will play a vital role in bolstering their leaky defence as they launch a late-season charge at the finals.
Milligan helped Victory keep a clean sheet in last weekend’s derby draw against Melbourne Heart and says he has settled quickly at his new club and is loving life in his home competition.
But when asked about a permanent move back home, the 26-year-old revealed he had no plans of leaving the J.League second division outfit .
“I don’t think so,” Milligan said. “I am quite enjoying Japan. My family likes it. Maybe in the not-too-distant future (I’ll return to Australia) but at the moment I am still quite settled overseas.”
“This stint here now was a good chance for me to get home and play in front of the Australian public again.”
Victory face league leaders Central Coast on Friday night in a must-win fixture.
They then must take on other top-four clubs in Brisbane Roar, Wellington and Perth Glory in the final weeks of the season.
The Blue and Whites are yet to win a match since Jim Magilton took over from Mehmet Durakovic as coach, but Milligan said it was only a matter of time before the talented squad clicked.
“(Magilton) came in and had his plan and I think slowly the boys are taking to that,” Milligan said. “I can only comment on the few weeks that I have been here it seems to be coming together.”
“He is getting more time with the boys. We have had a lot more training sessions with him.”
“On the weekend it was tough. It was a derby match and we managed to keep a clean sheet which is what we have been focussing on the last couple of weeks.”
“We are aware of things and we are working on them and that’s important. If we were oblivious to things and we thought that things were going along fine then that would be a worry.”
Overlooked for selection in Australia’s last four matches, Milligan is hoping to catch the eye of Socceroos coach Holger Osieck during his A-League stint.
The 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup squad member is eying a recall as early as next month when Australia face Saudi Arabia in a FIFA World Cup qualifier at AAMI Park.
“The last few weeks I have just been trying to get myself fit again,” he said.
“The first game was a bit of a struggle but I have got a couple of good weeks under my belt and I am feeling stronger and stronger each day.”
