Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Mathew Ryan is being tracked by several clubs despite returning home from a trial with English Premier League sides Tottenham and West Bromwich Albion.
Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Mathew Ryan is being tracked by several clubs despite returning home from a trial with English Premier League sides Tottenham and West Bromwich Albion.
Ryan, 20, flew home earlier this week after his stint in England, which included a week-long trial at Spurs.
A shoulder strain suffered while training with the White Hart Lane outfit forced Ryan to cancel plans to train at Wigan.
European clubs reportedly remain interested in the Qantas Australian U-23s shot-stopper and are keeping tabs on his progress, although a move is unlikely to be finalised before the transfer window closes on August 31.
Ryan, who was playing in the New South Wales Premier League just two years ago, said he was still coming to terms with what he had experienced.
“I’m pinching myself here. Two years ago I was playing at Blacktown City before I got my chance here (at the Mariners),” he said on Friday.
“If you’d have told me two years ago that I’d be going over to Tottenham and West Brom to experience those clubs, I don’t think I’d have believed you.”
Ryan has been touted as a future Qantas Socceroos goalkeeper after stellar efforts in the Hyundai A-League, including taking out the Goalkeeper of the Year Award last season.
Plumpton-born Ryan said the likes of Dutch attacker Rafael van der Vaart and Welsh winger Gareth Bale had been particularly impressive in training.
“I trained with the whole first team. Players like Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart were definitely two players that I loved sitting behind when they were on my team. I enjoyed just watching them do what they do,” Ryan said.
“The attributes that they have are just freakish. The calmness van der Vaart has on the ball, you’ve got to see it to believe it.”
