Defensive duo Corey Brown and Jason Geria will play for the first time this National Youth League season tomorrow against Central Coast Mariners, after returning from international duty in the United Arab Emirates.
Defensive duo Corey Brown and Jason Geria will play for the first time this National Youth League season tomorrow against Central Coast Mariners, after returning from international duty in the United Arab Emirates.
Brown and Geria were part of the Qantas Young Socceroos side that progressed to the semi-finals of the AFC U19 Championship, losing 2-0 to Iraq in the final four but qualifying for next year-s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey in the process.
Geria, the team captain yet to wear the armband, and Brown will be welcomed back into the Roar Youth team who have endured a mixed bag of results so far – two wins, a draw and two losses.
“This is the first time we-ve had everyone, defensively, available for selection,” Head Coach John Sime said.
“Jason and Corey will play and I think they-ll make us a little bit more solid at the back.
“All of the games so far, we haven-t really defended that well to be honest, as a group and individually.”
Up against league leaders Central Coast Mariners, yet to lose a game in the first five rounds of competition, Sime said both players would provide a spark, both defensively and going forward.
“It-s good having them back, they-ll tighten things up and going forward, you get that little bit of extra from Corey and that little bit extra from Jason,” he said.
“I-m really looking forward to the game tomorrow, Central Coast Youth team have been the best team for the past few years.
“I have no doubts their standards are still high and they-re sitting on top of the table, unbeaten.
“That gives us a great opportunity for us to put on a good performance.”
Brisbane Roar Youth travel to Gosford tomorrow to play Central Coast Mariners Youth. Kick-off at Tuggerah-s Centre of Excellence is at 4pm local time, 3pm Brisbane time. Match updates available at twitter.com/BrisbaneRoar.
