Brisbane Roar have continued to invest in the club’s pool of young local talent after signing exciting National Youth League product Luke Brattan to a three year senior contract.
Brisbane Roar have continued to invest in the club-s pool of young local talent after signing exciting National Youth League product Luke Brattan to a three year senior contract.
Brattan-s patience and undoubted potential were rewarded by Roar officials, who can now call upon an arsenal of vision, guile and a deadly free-kick.
Jumping at the chance to sign with his hometown club, Brattan said there were times he considered if his dream of playing professional football would ever materialise.
“I-ve been involved with the first team a lot, being used as a 16th man at training and warm-ups,” the 19 year-old said.
“(But) I-ve been waiting a while … and I-ve sacrificed a lot.
“I had to stop working to come and train full time, but finally it paid off.”
Catching the eye of Roar mentor Ange Postecoglou with his outstanding youth league performances, Brattan was called up for the first-team-s away clash against Perth Glory last December.
Brought on as a substitute in the 58th minute, the attack minded Brattan said that taste of his Hyundai A-league debut left him craving for more.
“It probably wasn-t a good game to come in to because we were defending for the last 25 minutes,” Brattan said.
“But it was good to see the intensity, speed and skill of the league.”
Brattan will not feel out of place within the first team structure, linking up with other young talent such as Michael Zullo, Tommy Oar, Isaka Cernak and Mitch Nichols.
And watching his fellow younger generation shine under the tutelage of Postecoglou has increased Brattan-s belief he has what it takes to be successful at the highest level.
“And it-s good to see that the other young guys can do it, so hopefully I can make it,” the English-born Brattan said.
“It-s good to know that (Postecoglou) likes to give young players a chance.”
Postecoglou said Brattan-s appointment would add extra depth to the squad, challenging the young midfielder to take his game to the next level.
“Luke is another one off our production line that we want to start pushing towards the first team,” he said.
“He-s a very, very good passer of the ball, he-s got great vision and now he-s got to learn how to work a bit harder.”
Brattan said he was looking forward to his first pre-season with the club, setting himself the workable goal of making as many league appearances as he could in his debut season.
