Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce says the “exciting” Daniel Arzani will only improve after completing 90 minutes for the first time in his senior career.
Arzani played the full match at Coopers Stadium as City recovered from a goal down to claim a 1-1 draw, their first point in four matches.
The teenager was a livewire throughout and provided the cross that led to Stefan Mauk’s equaliser.
“We’ve had a chance to put more work into him over the last couple of weeks,” Joyce told Fox Sports.
“Sometimes when you come off the work at the right time you can feel the benefit.
“He’s had a long hard slog. He’s playing catch up on missing the vast majority of the first bit of the season.
“I still think there’s more to come. He’s obviously an exciting prospect.
“He wants to work, he wants to learn, and I’m pleased for him that he got through 90 minutes.
“It’s a bugbear of his that he couldn’t deal with [a full match until now] because he puts a lot of work in.”
Joyce’s sentiment was echoed by midfielder Luke Brattan, who turned in a man of the match performance in a result he described as being two points dropped.
“He’s 18 so he’s got a long way to go and a lot to learn,” Brattan said of Arzani.
“But he’s a great kid, a fantastic talent, and I’ve been saying since I’ve been at City that I don’t think he’s going to be here for a long time.
“He has got to keep his feet on the ground and listen to people.”
Stefan Mauk. Against his former club. In front of the Red Army.
And didn't he enjoy it…! ???
?: @FOXFOOTBALL #ADLvMCY #ALeague pic.twitter.com/hJbw6iUqyC
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) March 16, 2018
