Manchester United Teenager James Overy Handed Shock Socceroos Call-up

Tony Popovic has opened nan doorway for a Socceroos World Cup action daze by including 17-year-old fullback James Overy successful nan squad for 2 important friendlies later this month.

The Manchester United younker subordinate has trained pinch nan first squad astatine nine level since returning from Australia’s run astatine nan U-20 World Cup successful Chile past month, reportedly impressing Red Devils coach Ruben Amorim.

The Socceroos caput coach brought successful nan highly-touted right-back – who grew up successful Perth but has besides represented Scotland astatine younker level – arsenic portion of 11 changes to nan squad selected for past month’s friendlies against nan USA and Canada.

Australia will play Venezuela successful Houston connected 14 November earlier taking connected Colombia successful New York, arsenic nan broadside ramps up its preparations for nan 2026 World Cup successful North America.

Although Popovic has formed his nett wide, bringing successful six different uncapped players including 4 from nan A-League Men, nan 2 matches transportation other value for nan Socceroos arsenic they look to boost their world ranking and amended their chance of being placed successful a much favourable group when nan World Cup tie takes spot connected 5 December.

The uncapped home contingent is made of up Paul Okon-Engstler and Al Hassan Toure from Sydney FC, and Melbourne City duo Kai Trewin and Patrick Beach. The only different A-League Men subordinate named nan squad is Adelaide United winger Craig Goodwin.

Deni Juric – nan 28-year-old relative of erstwhile Socceroo Tomi – has been called up for nan first time. The guardant has spent his full profession successful Europe, mostly successful Croatia, and has started regularly for Wisla Plock successful Poland’s apical formation since joining nan nine successful September.

Overy’s inclusion is simply a milestone successful his dependable ascension. The Guardian named him one of nan 60 champion young talents successful world shot past year.

After impressing successful a friends for Perth Glory against West Ham 2 years ago, Overy moved pinch his family to nan UK amid reported liking from aggregate clubs earlier signing pinch United. However, nan teenager’s advancement was stalled by an Achilles wounded that sidelined him for 8 months.

That wounded appears past him now, and Overy was nan youngest subordinate successful Australia’s U-20 World Cup broadside which mislaid 2 matches and won erstwhile successful nan group shape successful Chile.

The teen was reportedly invited to train pinch nan Manchester United first squad nether Amorim connected 3 occasions past month, elevating his floor plan and prompting a surge of liking from fans.

Popovic said nan selections were made to “expand nan depth” of nan Socceroos, and expose young players to elder world football.

“We besides invited backmost immoderate acquainted faces, from Australia and abroad,” Popovic said. “I’ve had nan chance to intimately observe nan opening rounds of nan A-League season, and we judge this is nan perfect clip to merge home players into nan squad.”

Captain Jackson Irvine has been named successful an Australia squad for nan first clip since March pursuing his return from a ft wounded for St Pauli successful Germany, while Nestory Irankunda has been included moreover arsenic nan 19-year-old appears to person mislaid his starting spot astatine Watford nether caller coach Javi Gracia.