Versatility a boon for Young Socceroo’s hopes

A-LEAGUE ROUND 5

MELBOURNE City’s teenage sensation Nathaniel Atkinson may have had his right-back spot nicked by Ritchie de Laet, but the Tasmanian hopes his versatility will help him retain a first XI spot.

Atkinson said young players needed more A-League exposure if Australia was to qualify for world youth cups regularly, after the Young Socceroos’ recent disappointment.

His 16 A-League starts — 14 more than the next closest players in the squad, Christian Theoharous and Apostolos Stametolopoulos, and 11 more than Ajax’s Seb Pasquali — made him the most experienced player in the squad.

While former Manchester United and Leicester City fullback de Laet has claimed rightback, Atkinson looks to be following in the footsteps of some of the A-League’s versatile stars such as Simon Colosimo and Leigh Broxham.

“Warren (Joyce) doesn’t even know what my best position is yet,’’ he said.

“One of my very strengths is my versatility. I made my debut at right-wing, then moved to right-back and played in midfield.

“Warren and I have an understanding that it’s good maybe that versatility, I can help out the team wherever they need me.”

Atkinson believes Australia is capable of bridging the gap, after losing the Asian Under-19 Championships quarter-final to Saudi Arabia, with only the top four qualifying for the Under 20 World Cup.

He said better preparation and more senior exposure would make the difference.

“It’s always a big challenge for the youth boys to get a gig, I’m in a very lucky situation to be getting the game time I’m getting,’’ he said.

“I think the boys are all good enough to play (ALeague regularly) but coaches are always looking for the best results and they’ll pick the best team on the day.

“A lot of boys are getting in now, ‘AP’ (Stametolopoulos) and we are seeing more boys on the bench, Connor (Metcalfe) got on the other day.

“We’ve definitely got the talent, the youth is getting better each year

“We came together three weeks before the tournament, so we didn’t have as much time together as the other Asian teams, who were in camps and playing regularly.”

Atkinson was thrilled to wear the captain’s armband for the Young Socceroos.

“It was my first competitive game for Australia. I’ve gone to qualifiers but didn’t get on the field so it was good to finally make my debut,’’ he said.