On this week’s episode of Total A-Leagues, retired Socceroo Tommy Oar hailed the quality of Melbourne City star Mathew Leckie following his Melbourne Derby display.
The Melbourne Derby was the perfect reminder of Mathew Leckie’s immense quality.
Injuries have curtailed the Socceroo’s impact over the past 12 months, but last week’s blockbuster showdown against Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park showcased his importance to Melbourne City and what he can still bring to do the table for the national team.
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It was a masterclass from the 34-year-old star, away from the forward position that has seen him earn 78-caps for the Subway Socceroos. There was the dummy for Marco Tilio’s opening goal against Melbourne Victory. His movement and awareness on the pitch wreaked havoc.
Then there is the work that goes unnoticed, like tracking back into his own penalty area to break up play.
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Now fit and firing for Aurelio Vidmar’s City, the former Borussia Monchengladbach and Hertha Berlin attacker is taking the Championship hopefuls to “another level”, according to retired Socceroo and ex-A-Leagues star Tommy Oar.
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“Matt Leckie obviously been playing a lot in the midfield, which is not something we associate with him positionally, but he’s been an absolute revelation in there,” Oar said on this week’s Total A-Leagues episode.
“I think he’s so underrated every time he gets the ball. He’s so secure with the ball, and he’s so so strong and such a driving force that it was really difficult for the Melbourne Victory to midfielders to kind of contain him.
“I think he kind of allowed players like Marco Tilio more time and more space to show what they can do as well, and having him and Tilio back in the team, although the young players have done really well, it’s taken them to another level.”
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Oar added: “It’s the match smartness that we’re talking about (with Leckie).
“I think that he’s so aware of his surroundings, and he’s got a really high level of football intelligence. So if you couple that with his physical output, he’s obviously a physical specimen.
“Nobody wants to play against him because he’s so quick, so strong, even if he has a bad touch, which doesn’t happen very often, he’s able to protect and just push you away from the ball.
“He’s just so rounded in his play that he could literally play in any position on the field.
“When you talk about other players overseas at different leagues, like top players in the world, Wayne Rooney was a player that was similar, you can almost put him in any position, and he’s going to excel because his attributes are so kind of rounded.
“I think Matt Leckie very much falls into that category.”
Heading into Friday’s clash with Wellington Phoenix, City head coach Aurelio Vidmar told reporters: “If his body can hold up, he is probably the best player in the league in my opinion.
“We saw that on Saturday night. Very rarely turns the ball over. He is always in the physical fight. When you need someone to hold the ball for you, he will do that. He will create things himself. Puts himself about.
“We know how valuable he is, and he is a valuable person to the Socceroos as well.”
