jelly123
03-21-2008, 03:22 AM
After leaving the eye of one storm to join up with the Socceroos in Singapore, young Newcastle United midfielder James Troisi found himself in the middle of another on Thursday.
While the dark clouds of relegation look set to haunt Kevin Keegan and his Magpies for the rest of the Premiership season, Troisi and the rest of Pim Verbeek's squad were also left floundering when a Singaporean-downpour halted preparations for Saturday's international.
Verbeek's scheduled morning training session had to be cancelled after the pitch became waterlogged in minutes under the deluge, leaving players and coaches frustrated.
And that was a familiar feeling for the 19 year-old Adelaide-born talent, after limited chances and even fewer highlights on Tyneside this season.
"Obviously Newcastle is going through a bit of a tough patch at the moment so it has been a bit hard for me to get in the squad," Troisi said.
"Hopefully things change for the better in the next few weeks and ease up a bit."
Away from the bear pit of north-east England, where Keegan is yet to have a win in charge of the Magpies since returning in January, Troisi is relishing the chance to stake his claim for Australia's World Cup qualifier against China next week.
Troisi is one of a handful of European players - most notably Harry Kewell - who will join an A-League squad in taking on Singapore in the National Stadium.
And the youngster said he was also bringing the spirit of Mark Viduka with him from the UK, and a dream of one day playing alongside his Newcastle teammate in national colours.
"He is a good man and I get along really well with him, and it's always good to have a chat with him," Troisi said.
"That would be fantastic. He has been having a few injuries lately, but he has come back good. Hopefully we will see him again very soon for Australia."
With Troisi out of contract at Newcastle at the end of the season, rumours of interest from the continent abound, with a trial already held with Dutch based Roda FC.
And while international honours come first this week, the teenager said he was taking on board Verbeek's recent comments he may need to move clubs to fulfil his potential.
"I have to look at my options, look at what is happening and try and get some first team football very soon," Troisi said.
"I am getting a little bit older now, there are few other places I could go out of England, so I will have to wait and see what happens."
What happens this weekend could determine whether the midfielder, who has already been dubbed the New Kewell by some pundits, features in the Socceroos World Cup campaign.
And the fact he has trained and could play alongside the Liverpool superstar he has been compared to is only adding to Troisi's experience.
"It is good to have him (Kewell) here, it is a good boost for all the boys," he said.
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=390288
http://www.4thegame.com/media/00/03/98/james_troisi.jpg
While the dark clouds of relegation look set to haunt Kevin Keegan and his Magpies for the rest of the Premiership season, Troisi and the rest of Pim Verbeek's squad were also left floundering when a Singaporean-downpour halted preparations for Saturday's international.
Verbeek's scheduled morning training session had to be cancelled after the pitch became waterlogged in minutes under the deluge, leaving players and coaches frustrated.
And that was a familiar feeling for the 19 year-old Adelaide-born talent, after limited chances and even fewer highlights on Tyneside this season.
"Obviously Newcastle is going through a bit of a tough patch at the moment so it has been a bit hard for me to get in the squad," Troisi said.
"Hopefully things change for the better in the next few weeks and ease up a bit."
Away from the bear pit of north-east England, where Keegan is yet to have a win in charge of the Magpies since returning in January, Troisi is relishing the chance to stake his claim for Australia's World Cup qualifier against China next week.
Troisi is one of a handful of European players - most notably Harry Kewell - who will join an A-League squad in taking on Singapore in the National Stadium.
And the youngster said he was also bringing the spirit of Mark Viduka with him from the UK, and a dream of one day playing alongside his Newcastle teammate in national colours.
"He is a good man and I get along really well with him, and it's always good to have a chat with him," Troisi said.
"That would be fantastic. He has been having a few injuries lately, but he has come back good. Hopefully we will see him again very soon for Australia."
With Troisi out of contract at Newcastle at the end of the season, rumours of interest from the continent abound, with a trial already held with Dutch based Roda FC.
And while international honours come first this week, the teenager said he was taking on board Verbeek's recent comments he may need to move clubs to fulfil his potential.
"I have to look at my options, look at what is happening and try and get some first team football very soon," Troisi said.
"I am getting a little bit older now, there are few other places I could go out of England, so I will have to wait and see what happens."
What happens this weekend could determine whether the midfielder, who has already been dubbed the New Kewell by some pundits, features in the Socceroos World Cup campaign.
And the fact he has trained and could play alongside the Liverpool superstar he has been compared to is only adding to Troisi's experience.
"It is good to have him (Kewell) here, it is a good boost for all the boys," he said.
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=390288
http://www.4thegame.com/media/00/03/98/james_troisi.jpg