Australia Pick Man Utd Teen Yet To Play In First Team

He has yet to play immoderate elder football, only joined Manchester United past summertime and wasn't moreover calved erstwhile Australia reached their first World Cup successful 2006.

But 18-year-old right-back James Overy, who played for United's Under-18s against Leeds connected Saturday, could beryllium heading to adjacent summer's finals aft being called up to nan Socceroos squad for friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia successful nan United States.

Former Perth Glory teen Overy moved to Devon from Australia successful 2023, playing for Newton Abbot Spurs' first squad successful nan South West Peninsula League earlier being signed by United's academy a twelvemonth later.

A important Achilles tendon wounded stalled Overy's advancement but his talent has been evident successful United colours astatine some Under-18 and Under-21 level, featuring against elder guidance successful National League Cup ties astatine Tamworth and Rochdale.

Overy is simply a speedy right-back, tin screen cardinal defenders good and property forward. Yet his call-up presumably owes everything to his performances for his state astatine past month's Under-20 World Cup successful Chile, moreover though Australia grounded to make it retired of nan group stage.

"He's worthy having a look at," said Australia leader Tony Popovic of nan youngster who has not been successful a matchday squad for nan United elder team.

"I'm unfastened minded astir what that looks for illustration for nan contiguous early and agelong term.

"Watching him intimately successful Chile, I was impressed.

"We person bully contacts astatine Manchester United, truthful we cognize what he's doing astatine training.

"He's successful nan process wherever he's getting called up (to first-team training) a batch much often."

Overy is among 7 uncapped players successful nan Australia squad arsenic Popovic looks to build extent earlier adjacent summer's World Cup, which is nan seventh successful succession that they person qualified for.

The defender is besides eligible to play for Scotland and has represented them astatine Under-19 level.

Weirdly, Overy could subordinate chap full-back Diego Leon (Paraguay) and wide-man James Scanlon (Gibraltar) successful making his elder world front earlier he has played a first squad crippled for Manchester United.