Perth Glory young gun Sebastian Despotovski could be in line to make his Isuzu UTE A-League debut this weekend after he was named in the travelling squad for their Round 28 clash with Auckland FC.
Rounding out their season with games in New Zealand against both the Black Knights and Wellington Phoenix, Glory boss David Zdrilic has rewarded 19-year-old Despotovski with a spot in his first-team squad following his recent breath-taking form in the NPL.
The son of Glory legend Bobby Despotovski, the young striker bagged four goals in the space of just 53 minutes in a recent NPLM WA outing against Perth RedStar and his goalscoring antics certainly caught the eye of Zdrilic.
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“Sebastian has been doing really well in the NPL (Western Australia) and he’s going to come along with us,” said Zdrilic when speaking at his pre-match press conference before jetting off across the ditch.
“There’s no secret that I want to integrate young players, and I’ve done it all year, and that doesn’t stop with the current squad.
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“I’m watching all the guys in the NPL.
“I think our program from last year, we nearly got relegated. Now they’ve started flying this year. So you know I think we’ve improved that program a lot.
“The players need to know that we’re watching them, and if they’re doing well, they’re going to have a chance with us.
Zdrilic later added: “I think he trained with us a lot last year and with a group of the guys that are in the NPL. So the progression from where they were to where they are now is… you’ve got to be patient with them.
“Last year there’s no chance some of those guys would have been able to survive in the training. He’s come in, and it’s not just the goals, he’s come in and he’s training like one of our players, and they don’t sort of get lost in the training sessions.
“I think that’s impressed me the most. Yes, he’s scoring goals at NPL. Yes, he’s doing well there, but he’s also doing well when he comes into training with us.”
“I think that’s important, that the message for all the young players that come to this club is that we are watching you and you’re going to get a chance when it’s right.
“Him being part of the squad, we’ll see what happens in the extended squad, but he’s doing well for the NPL, and he’s got rewarded.”
Currently sat last in the Isuzu UTE A-League, Perth Glory have the unenviable task of snatching points away from league leaders Auckland FC on Sunday afternoon.
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One thing that could work in their favour though is the fact the Black Knights may already be confirmed as Premiers come kick-off time.
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If second-placed Melbourne City fail to beat Adelaide United at home on Saturday evening then Auckland will have clinched the Premier’s Plate without even kicking a ball, meaning Zdrilic’s side could come up against a side already in celebration mode at what will be a packed-out Go Media Stadium.
With just 14 points to their name the Glory sit one point behind 12th placed Brisbane Roar with just two games left in their respective seasons.
