05 Dec Mariners young gun De Silva bound for Russia with Socceroos

Expect there to be an imminent Australian national team call-up for a particularly talented Hyundai A-League young gun.

The development of 20-year-old Danny De Silva under Paul Okon at the Central Coast Mariners is bound to have a positive impact on the Socceroos as they look ahead to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The pair had worked together in the Australia U20 and U23 teams and it was that relationship which prompted Okon to make a serious move for the Perth Glory product this year.

De Silva joined the Mariners on a three-year deal in July following a loan stint with Dutch Eredivisie outfit Roda JC and the Central Coast club is certainly benefitting from his presence.

Okon said of De Silva last month: “I’m the most biased person to talk about Danny.

“We know that we’re blessed, we see him every day, we work with him every day.
“The moment I got this job at the Mariners, he was the one player I was desperate to have.
“I managed to finally get him, and he’s here for performances like that.”

In September, Okon had spoken of his expectation that De Silva will become a senior Socceroo in the lead-up to the World Cup.

“We’ve set him a few challenges. One of them is – if Australia goes to the World Cup – there’s a challenge to get into that Socceroos squad,” said Okon.

“He’s had a taste. He’s hungry for it and hopefully we’re going to help him achieve that goal.

“Hopefully he’s going to have a long career with the Socceroos.”

The diminutive attacking midfielder, who was involved in a puzzling transfer to Italian giants AS Roma in 2015, has been pulling the strings for the Mariners so far this season and his performances have led to him being the NAB Young Footballer Nominee for November and A-League Player of the Round for Week 9.

In the wake of the weekend’s 1-0 win over Perth, in which De Silva brilliantly set up the winning goal for Blake Powell, his Mariners midfield mate Wout Brama told Fox Sports’ Shootout: “Danny is an exceptional player. His play on the ball is outstanding.

“If we work hard, Tommy (Hiariej) and me, than Danny can make the difference. You saw that today again.

“If we build our playing style I think Danny will grow more and more and he will score more goals and give more assists.”

Now they are some words of high praise from a man who has previously shared the pitch with Wesley Sneijder, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rafael van der Vaart, Dirk Kuyt, Nigel de Jong and Ibrahim Afellay in the Holland set up.

While yet to be capped at senior international level, De Silva has experience of Socceroos life having spent time in Ange Postecoglou squads, learning from the likes of captain Mile Jedinak and the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer Tim Cahill.

With brilliant control in possession, cleverness to pick passes with outstanding vision and a couple of handy tricks up his sleeve, De Silva must be handed a ticket to Russia by the man who steps in to fill the void left by Ange.

Following the exit of Postecoglou, the role of the Socceroos head coach is yet to be filled, but one name that must be on the notepad of the eventual successor is that of D.De Silva.

He will no doubt provide a breath of fresh of air to a Socceroos squad which endured the toughest World Cup qualifying schedule of any of the 32 teams set to compete in Russia next year.

And with group matches against France, Denmark and Peru on the horizon, the presence of such composure, control and increasing confidence of a highly-rated youngster is paramount to any desired success on football’s greatest international stage.