With six weeks to go until season 2012/13, we’re looking at the best breakthrough talent.
With six weeks to go until season 2012/13, we’re looking at the best breakthrough talent.
Melbourne Victory
Criticised last year for relying too much upon aging stars like Carlos Hernandez, Harry Kewell and Archie Thompson, that won-t be the case this year when Ange Postecoglou-s new-look Melbourne Victory take the field.
Alongside some more established talent, Postecoglou seems likely to take a punt on some young players making the step up to A-League level this year, and has some huge potential to go alongside established young gun James Jeggo.
Sam Gallagher: With just five minutes of A-League football behind him, Gallagher has plenty of work to do but should anything happen to Adama Traore he can cover left-back; rangy and good positionally he could be a good asset at the back for the Victory.
Ange says: “Sam is a guy who I think we can mould into a really good young player. He has a great opportunity to learn from guys like Adrian Leijer and Mark Milligan so he-s surrounded by quality guys with plenty of experience.”
Julius Davies: So highly touted, the 18-year-old spent his junior career in Germany and has come home with big wraps. A raw talent he can make things happen in the midfield for the Victory and it won-t surprise to see him employed to wreak havoc off the bench.
Ange says: “Julius is an exciting prospect, but is still a very young and raw talent. He-s a confident kid and looks to have some great attributes.”
Theo Markelis: Returning home from Valencia, Markelis got the opportunity to learn from some of the best strikers in the world in his time there and it showed, coming back to the A-League to start his senior career; a partnership with Archie Thompson could be quite entertaining.
Ange says: “Theo is a player who I believe we can really develop over the next two years.”
“To have been signed by a club such as Valencia when he was just 15 years old is a fair indication of his potential.
“His record in the youth ranks over there (Europe) was exceptional and he averaged 15 goals a season during his 3 years at Valencia.”
