Jason Hoffman is not concerned about his differing roles with club and country, with the affable 22-year-old happy to do what he needs to to get a game for either Melbourne Heart or the Australian Under 23 side.
Jason Hoffman is not concerned that his differing roles with club and country will lead to an identity crisis with the affable 22-year-old happy to do what he needs to to get a game for either Melbourne Heart or the Australian Under 23 side.
Hoffman has spent most of his career as a target man, but club coach John van ‘t Schip has asked him to step into the midfield as part of his development as a player.
He certainly enjoys the freedom of playing in the midfield, but will be happy to do whatever he needs to get his name on the scoresheet.
“It’s up to the coach. Through my juniors, I was always a striker in a two up front. But it’s a bit different here, where we tend to play the Dutch style with one up front and it takes a bit to get used to,” Hoffman said.
“I’m quite happy to play anywhere. With the 23s I play as a ‘9’, but I’m an attacking midfielder at Melbourne Heart. I work hard regardless of my position.”
The former Newcastle youngster, who scored both of his Hyundai A-League goals for his former club in one match in Round 1 two years ago, is happy to have a few strings to his bow.
“It’s a good thing being quite versatile. You can adapt to different situations in different teams. In saying that it would be great to say I’m a ‘this’ type of position,” he said.
“I’m more than happy playing whether Aurelio Vidmar, with the 23s and wherever John van ‘t Schip and the club want to play me.”
“I thoroughly enjoy playing here in the midfield at Melbourne Heart. I just feel that in the midfield, I can get on the ball a bit more and not be so one dimensional up front. Sometimes I’m asked to do that with the Olyroos, there’s a lot more to my game that I have to offer.”
As an attacking player, Hoffman has been criticised for his lack of goals at club level, but a glut of goals for both the Olyroos and the Heart in pre-season have his confidence high.
“The thing is confidence. From the pre-season I gained a lot of confidence and I definitely feel that is still there,” he said.
“Things like the national camps help. It shows that you are getting some recognition for what you’ve been doing.”
After just three starts in 2010/11, Hoffman believes the faith shown in him by Van ‘t Schip has transformed his as a player.
“It makes a huge difference getting more game time. I want to play games and do well for Melbourne Heart,” he said.
“The last game I played we won 3-0 at home and that was quite a solid game. I’ve taken that confidence away with the Olyroos and come back with it and I’m looking forward to doing the same thing this weekend against Wellington.”
