A fresh face will stand between the sticks for Perth Glory this week following Liam Reddy’s suspension in Round 17.
The veteran ‘keeper has been in outstanding form this season, having made the second most saves in the Hyundai A-League, including three penalties.
The Glory gloveman received his marching orders last weekend against the Mariners, which means one of his understudies Nick Feely and Jordan Thurtell will have the chance to make their league debuts for the club against Newcastle on Saturday.
Feely is a Perth-raised player with great pedigree. His father, Peter, played for Chelsea, Bournemouth and Sheffield Wednesday during the 70’s. The 24-year-old Scotch College graduate spent a few years with the Celtic youth team, where he won the Scottish FA Youth Cup in 2011.
The 6″4 ‘keeper made a memorable senior debut for Perth in the thrilling Round of 16 Westfield FFA Cup clash against Queensland outfit, Lions FC, where the Hong-Kong born Young Socceroo came on to save a penalty after Jerrad Tyson’s dismissal in 2015. Feely enjoyed an excellent National Youth League campaign and has been named on the bench for the first team almost every week in 2016/2017.
Glory’s other option is talented 20-year-old Jordan Thurtell. The club’s NPL captain had another impressive season in the National Youth League after being named the NYL Most Glorious Player by Perth at the end of last season. The Queensland-born ‘keeper has worked tirelessly at training under the tutelage of Reddy and goalkeeping coach Danny Milosevic to put himself in contention to earn his full debut for the club.
Thurtell, who has been with Glory since 2014, has established himself as the U20’s Young Socceroos first choice keeper having played in the Asian Football Confederation Championships in Myanmar, and also spent two seasons with the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
The 20-year old has just returned to Perth after a three-day training camp with the Olyroos.
Whoever Kenny Lowe selects to protect Glory’s goal against the Jets this weekend, the team will be in very capable hands with these keepers, who are experienced beyond their years.
#GloryIsOurs
