Gold Coast United’s Tahj Minniecon is set to explode into form after a turbulent opening to his third season in the Hyundai A-League.
The 20-year-old speedster has been unable to get any consistency in his game as yet with injury and international duty disrupting his efforts – but with his ankle 100 percent and the youth World Cup behind him, Minniecon is ready to shine.
With no Hyundai A-League matches last weekend the youngster turned out for United’s youth team and scored two goals against the Jets in Newcastle and reaffirm his position on coach Miron Bleiberg’s selection radar.
Bleiberg coached the Qantas Young Socceroo at Brisbane Roar and knows more than anyone what Minniecon is capable of.
“He has a lot of talent and I have seen that since our days at the Roar, soon it will show,” Bleiberg said.
United’s coach was happy to see his rising star get 90 solid minutes under his belt in the National Youth League, and Minniecon’s relentless attack on goal and elusive running game ensure plenty of options.
“If you ask if the break was good for anybody, it was good for Tahj, it was good for him to play in the youth team and good for him to score goals,” Bleiberg said.
“Hopefully now he will start to score goals for the first team. It’s Due.”
“He knows it and everybody knows it – although it’s not his fault – he hasn’t produced what we have expected of him, but that will all be forgotten if he produces in the second half of the season when it counts.
“I think now is the time for him to settle down and play his best football.”
With Brazilian playmakers Robson and Jefferson out injured there is a vacancy in the midfield for United’s Round 15 clash with Adelaide, but when it comes to where and when he will play his ace, Bleiberg is keeping his cards close to his chest.
“Tahj will certainly play a role on the weekend, but I am not going to reveal what it might be,” he said.
