JESSE: SVEN TOLD ME TO FIL MY BOOTS
JESSE CURRAN admits he’s facing the toughest decision of his career after going from Dundee reserves to courting SvenGoran Eriksson’s calls.
The Australian-born midfielder has been one of the rare shining lights at Dens Park in the first half of a gloomy season.
And the 22-year-old’s performances have seen the Philippines make a move to call him up – with ex-England boss Eriksson national manager there.
Curran qualifies through Filipino mum Mary-Anne but is also eligible for his birth nation and Scotland, home of his late father Tom.
With his extended family and friends pulling him in three different directions he faces a tough decision.
Curran said: “I have spoken to Sven. He called and invited me out to have a look around and to see what I think. I might go.
“He’s worked with top clubs, countries, players. There will be a lot to learn from him if I do go.
“They have qualified for the Asian Cup. It’s massive for them and it’s the first time they have qualified in years.
“Sven spoke positively about that and they have Neil Etheridge, a keeper playing in the Premier League with Cardiff. They also have a couple of boys from the Championship and the Bundesliga, so it’s looking quite good.”
Curran admitted his mum is desperate for him to commit to her homeland.
He said: “Mum’s from Manilla. She comes from a family of 12 brothers and sisters. They all want me to play for the Philippines but I have had to tell her to calm down and look at every option.”
He’s also on the radar of the Socceroos and would love to boost their growing band in the Premiership, alongside Tom Rogic, Mark Milligan, Martin Boyle and James Maclaren.
Curran said: “When I was younger I went to a 20s camp for a week. That was with Australia but the game got called off and I never got that cap. They have come and watched a couple of my games.
“They were looking for a right-back but I have moved forward now and Martin is playing on the right wing now. “
His father left Maryhill as a teenager to start a life Down Under but Curran made the return journey after being dropped by Central Coast Mariners.
He said: “My dad just wanted to get out of Glasgow because it was quite rough where he was from. He got a plane ticket for something like £20 to get to Australia.
“He had an aunt over there so he went across when he was 18. He went and lived with her and he never came back.
“I had a spell at Mariners but I always wanted to play in Europe. I had a good first season at Central Coast in the youth league but then they brought in new players and I got bombed.
“It was 2015 and I just said to my agent that I wanted to try something different overseas.
“My agent knew a guy in Manchester who knew Eddie Johnstone when he was the 20s coach here. I got a week’s trial and I stayed seven weeks.
“I’m in the last six months so we’re all playing for contracts and our future at the club. There has been nothing about my contract yet.”