Brisbane Roar Premiership defender and Socceroo Jade North has been named in the Foxtel A-League All Stars team by coach Josep Gombau following the injury suffered to Matthew Spiranovic last week.
The Foxtel A-League All Stars take on Italian champions Juventus at ANZ Stadium on Sunday 10 August as the best players in the Hyundai A-League test themselves against the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Gianluigi Buffon.
North will join the rest of the Foxtel A-League All Stars team when the squad comes into camp in Wollongong on the NSW South Coast this Friday (1 August).
North becomes the third Brisbane Roar player to be selected in the All Stars side and could line up alongside fellow central defender Matt Smith as well as 2013/14 Hyundai A-League Johnny Warren Medallist Thomas Broich.
Gombau gave an indication of the football the All Stars would play by declaring North’s ability to play the ball out from the back as one of his reasons for selecting the versatile defender.
“We need players who are comfortable to play the ball out from the back to fit with our play,” Gombau said. “Jade North is a player who can play with the ball at his feet and he is also (a) very good defender.
“It is also a help for us that he has a good feeling of playing next to Matt Smith, who is one of our other defenders and they played together a lot at Brisbane Roar last year in a successful team.
“It is unfortunate that Matthew Spiranovic has the injury but Jade North will be a good player for the All Stars team.”
North was surprised at his late call up into the team but looking forward to the challenge of taking on one of the world’s best football clubs.
“It has come as a surprise but I’m looking forward to the experience,” North said. “Obviously (Matt) Smithy and I have got a good understanding of each other’s play and hopefully we get the chance to test our partnership against Juventus.
“We’ve got a big season coming up at Brisbane Roar and this is a good opportunity to build my match fitness in pre-season and work alongside some different players.”
