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Give them a go, pleads Versleijen

Marc Fox reports.....

Australia under-20s coach Jan Versleijen has pleaded with his A-League counterparts to give the country's most promising youngsters a regular platform to showcase their talents.

Versleijen guided Australia three straight defeats at the under-20s World Cup and afterwards implored domestic coaches to support his international development programme by handing his Young Socceroos an A-League opportunity.

"It is so important that these players are playing for their clubs. I don’t think enough of our players were doing that heading into the tournament, in many cases through no fault of their own, and I think it affected us," the Dutchman said after witnessing losses to the Czech Republic, Costa Rica and an understrength Brazil side.

"The players will go back to their clubs with more confidence and the challenge for them now is to break into their A-League side or, if they already have, then to make sure they become a regular."

Versleijen knows a thing or two about developing young talent. The journeyman coach was previously in charge of the Dutch under-17 and under-23 teams and was brought in to oversee Australia's youth development in June last year.

He successfully steered the under-20s through Asian qualifying, taking the side to the semi-finals in last November's AFC under-19s championships.

But his progress fell flat in Egypt, with few positives garnered for senior international coach, compatriot Pim Verbeek.

Versleijen looked on the bright side by arguing that five of the side's starters against Brazil are young enough to qualify for the 2011 World Cup in two years' time.

But the displays make it safe to predict that none of this current crop of under-20s will make the step up to Verbeek's World Cup squad as quickly as Mark Milligan did before the 2006 showpiece event.

Milligan impressed then-coach Guus Hiddink with his performances at the 2005 under-20s World Cup in Holland and found himself one of only two A-League-based players in the Dutchman's squad for Germany.

Under-20s captain James Holland is leading the race to be on the plane to South Africa. Holland has already made four Socceroos appearances and is on the verge of a first team place at AZ Alkmaar after moving from the Newcastle Jets in 2008.

Fellow under-20s Mitch Nichols, Daniel Mullen and Ben Kantarovski have also been involved at a higher level, while Aaron Mooy, who's impressing at Bolton Wanderers in England, featured in Verbeek's experimental squad against Ireland during the summer.

In goal, Liverpool reserve Dean Bouzanis fought off stiff competition from Andrew Redmayne and Alex Cisak to become Versleijen's No.1 keeper, which could be crucial in ending his interest in representing Greece – the birthplace of his parents – at senior level.

A-League latest

This year's extended 27-round A-League season is proving closer than ever with just eight points separating the 10 teams.

With one game still to play in round nine, champions Melbourne Victory lead newcomers Gold Coast United by a point with North Queensland bottom.

Marc Fox

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