Today we take a look at three midfielders who are on the cusp of selection, all of them have played at the highest levels in Europe as well.
With voting for the Foxtel A-League All Stars team to face Manchester United due to close on 30 April, who do you think should be on the team on 24 July?
Let-s look at some of the players on the fringes of the squad, vying for a position to face the 20-times Premier League champions. Today, it-s three midfielders who are on the cusp and all of them have been to Europe to ply their trade and all did so with some success in their earlier years.
Jacob Burns
One of the league-s most niggly stars had a highly interrupted season for the Glory. The back half of it was cut short by a nagging back injury and a suspension for entering the books a few too many times, but when he was back Burns again showed that he has the class to drive the Glory midfield.
A former teammate of Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Alan Smith at Leeds United, Burns has seen Manchester United play plenty of times and would surely love another chance to take on the biggest team in world football
when they take on the All Stars.
His grit in the middle should not be underestimated when picking your team, after all someone has to do the hard yards and the Glory skipper revels in that role.
Thomas Broich
The German maestro was well and truly into his full stride for Brisbane Roar in the finals and on his day is still one of the biggest attacking threats in the A-League, his trickery, crosses, ball skills and shot make him a huge weapon and the only thing that would possibly go against him is he likes to get into the wide areas on the left of the box much like del Piero.
Despite that the German oozes class and having played in the Bundesliga for much of his career will know he can mix it at the highest level with United, but what really makes him a good selection is a possible return to playing under Ange Postecoglou.
The two worked so well together at Brisbane Roar that Ange could set up a playing style that fits Broich perfectly and might see him at his very best against the Red Devils.
Brett Emerton
It-s unlikely that even Brett Emerton would tell you this has been a good season for him, at times he was picked on for Sydney FC-s lack of form, that it coincided with his own form dipping only added fuel to the fire and saw him lose his spot in the Socceroos line-up.
However the international stage is actually where Emerton shone throughout a tough year when he led Holger Osieck-s side throughout the South East Asian Cup qualifying. Emerton was highly influential for Australia and picked up an award for that performance.
The end of the season may have seen him sitting on the sidelines with a suspension for his red card in the Sydney derby, but it was during this time that he started to pick up his game when deployed in a more central role, Emerton was coming into form at the back end of the season and he more than any player in the A-League has experience against Manchester United.
With over 240 games for Blackburn Rovers in a distinguished stint in the EPL, Emerton knows what it takes against the Red Devils and has even scored against them in the past, he could still be a valuable asset for coach Ange Postecoglou and is worthy of consideration when you pick your team.
Voting for the Foxtel A-League All Stars closes on 30 April, so click here to pick your team and have your say.
