Australia are continually on the lookout for the country’s next generation of heroes. And on occasion it can be difficult, in the goldfish bowl of Australian football, for young hopefuls to shake off comparisons with illustrious former Socceroos and take the steps forward needed to fulfil their potential.
One young starlet that has the Australia faithful salivating is young winger-cum-striker Matthew Leckie. The Melbourne-born forward set the country’s A-League alight and quickly became a fixture for Adelaide United under first Aurelio Vidmar and then Rini Coolen. Throughout Adelaide’s domestic and continental campaign, Leckie was explosive, consistent and carried a constant threat. A superb creative outlet, although hampered by niggling injuries, Leckie wasted no time in making his mark.
Now 20, Leckie is set to start his European adventure with Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach. The talented Australian could make German football sit up and notice as he makes his breakthrough in 2011/12 at Die Fohlen.
Having only secured their Bundesliga status via the relegation playoffs last season, Gladbach embarked on a rebuilding drive and Leckie appealed. The yet to be capped starlet made an instant impression in pre-season, scoring twice against Scottish side Aberdeen in a 5-2 romp for the Germans. Gladbach were impressed, so much so that the club fought successfully to ensure Leckie would skip the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia to remain at Borussia-Park. Football Federation Australia were keen for Leckie to play a starring role at the tournament, but first team football in Germany, with the winger making his first appearance of the season in the German Cup win over Regensberg (3-1), will ultimately be more beneficial to his long term development.
Although a precocious talent, Leckie will have a challenge on his hands to hold down a spot in Gladbach’s starting eleven. However, real versatility should serve the Australian well; Leckie can operate up front, on the wing, and even in midfield – Gladach will be sure to utilise this as the Bundesliga campaign drags on. Leckie’s favoured position on the right flank is blocked by Gladbach favourite and fellow starlet Marco Reus. Displacing the 22-year-old will be a difficult task, but Leckie could avoid a shoot-out with the Germany Under-21 talent by being deployed as a second striker.
Leckie trusts that Gladbach coach Lucien Favre will hand him opportunities to impress; even more than a naturally gifted youngster could expect. Indeed, Favre is known to rate the Australian and feels his hand strengthened by the cover Leckie can provide.
It is not just on the pitch where Leckie will need to settle to make an impact this season however, but off it too. Some Australians have struggled to overcome the cultural and linguistic barriers of life in a new country. But for Leckie, the presence of fellow Australians Nikita Rukavytsya (Hertha Berlin), Robbie Kruse (Fortuna Dusseldorf) and Mitch Langerak (Borussia Dortmund) in German football is a positive pointer that the Melbourne native should be able to adapt to his surroundings with a support network in place.
In Leckie a good number of Australians have placed the hopes of the nation, certain that his is a special type of talent. Though not yet with a senior cap to his name, there is little doubt that the 20-year-old is destined to become a key figure in the Socceroos’ camp, particularly if the expected breakthrough at Gladbach comes. And with the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign and the 2012 Olympics to look forward to, Leckie can produce the perfect springboard by registering a notable 2011/12 Bundesliga campaign.
