UNITED RECRUIT’S KILLER AUDITION
‘HE’S STRAIGHT INTO OUR STARTING SIDE’
GOLD Coast United coach Sean Lane would have flung recruit Lochie Reus into his starting side after a single training session back in the country, such is his wrap on the midfielder.
Reus, 23, is set to start in his United debut tonight against Brisbane City FC at Robina in a rescheduled clash from the weekend washout.
He recently returned from a stint in the US and wasted no time in quizzing Lane about an opportunity at the new National Premier Leagues Queensland club.
It was a message welcomely received by Lane, whose side are coming off back-toback two-goal defeats.
“You don’t get US scholarships if you are a mug,” Lane said. “What I’ve seen in the last few weeks at training, brilliant.
“While we are strong in midfield, what we lack is leaders … it was an easy answer for me. He will have done
four (training sessions) but he would have started after I saw him in one.
“Good player – and I don’t hand out that praise easily.”
Reus is a former Gold Coast City player and is excited to be back playing for the city.
His US experience started with two years at a junior college in St Louis before a further year abroad in western Texas, where he won the most valuable player award in a triumphant campaign.
Reus will be critical to United’s chances tonight.
“The lads are desperate to play … we want to get back on the horse, get another three points and get going,” Lane said.
“Brisbane City haven’t won a game this year but that really doesn’t mean too much. If you have a look at the quality of players that they have got, they are a good side and they will be desperate to get a win, so we have got to be more desperate.”
Lane pointed to missed opportunities in his side’s past two outings proving costly.
He added that while the Tuesday night fixture makes life tough for his players, some of whom have to make special arrangements with work, it has a more testing impact on the visitors.
The match starts at 7.30pm.