Exciting local players Danny De Silva and Riley Woodcock will get their chance to show off their footballing abilities this evening at nib Stadium after being confirmed as definite starters for their Hyundai A-League home debuts against Wellington Phoenix.
Exciting local players Danny De Silva and Riley Woodcock will get their chance to show off their footballing abilities this evening at nib Stadium after being confirmed as definite starters for their Hyundai A-League home debuts against Wellington Phoenix.
Both players are coming into the side on the back of some solid form with Woodcock making his Hyundai A-League debut last Saturday in the 77th minute against Brisbane, while De Silva starred in the youth team-s 7-2 win over the Roar the following day.
De Silva-s last Hyundai A-League appearance came in Round 4 when he came off the bench for the last 20 minutes against Sydney FC. The 16-year old suffered a midweek training-ground ankle injury following that match which kept him out of action for a couple of weeks, but Head Coach Alistair Edwards says De Silva has played the last two rounds with the youth team as he steadily returns to full fitness and is primed to go.
“Danny will slot in behind the striker,” Edwards said. “He’s got some match fitness now, so he’s ready to go again at this level.
Striker Jamie Maclaren will lead the front line again. The 20-year-old has scored both of his goals this season at nib Stadium and continues to back his fellow young team mates to get the job done with so many senior players missing.
“I think all us youngsters have a point to prove. We all have the older lads driving us on but definitely the young lads have something to prove and we’re looking forward to it,” Maclaren said.
Maclaren was also full of praise for his former Young Socceroo team mate Danny De Silva after news confirmed the talented teenager would start in the match against the Wellington Phoenix.
“He’s been training well and he definitely is an exceptional talent,” Maclaren said. “We do know he’s a young boy but he deserves his chance when he’s 100% fit.”
“We have a number 10 role and he can slip in there, that’s his position.”
It caps off a fantastic week for De Silva and Woodcock who were also named in Paul Okon-s Young Socceroos three-day training camp to be held at the AIS in Canberrra from Tuesday, 10th December to Thursday, 12 December. The 23 players attending the camp is the start of preparations for the AFC Under-19 Championships in Myanmar next October, which double as qualifiers for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand, 2015.
Edwards was delighted for the Glory duo as they continue to put themselves in the national selection mix with outstanding performances in the Foxtel National Youth League and Hyundai A-League.
“They-re important camps for the young Socceroo team and the players themselves. It-s exciting times for all those players and particularly Danny and Riley because they-re also playing in the A-League,” Edwards said.
Ndumba Makeche also comes into the squad as Edwards continues to support the promising crop of WA youngsters coming through the ranks.
Makeche has played in all of Glory-s youth games so far this season, scoring two goals including the opener against Brisbane in last week-s 7-2 victory. He has played two games for the Glory over the past two years with his last appearance coming against the Brisbane Roar in Round 18 of last season.
“Ndumba is an out-and-out striker. He-s general attitude even at first team training has been spot on. His been taking that attitude into the youth league and performing well so he deserves his chance at coming into the first team squad,” Edwards said.
“I think everyone in the youth team knows that if they are performing, that when the opportunity arises, they-ll get that opportunity in the first team. The likes of Chris Harold, Brandon O-Neill, Danny De Silva, Adrian Zahra and now Ndumba, know when they continue to perform like they are, then they will get brought into the match day squad,” he said.
