Rising Gold Coast star Ben Halloran has backed Socceroos coach Holger Osieck's claims that young Australian players often lack the 'desire' to lift their game to the next level.
Rising Gold Coast star Ben Halloran has backed Socceroos coach Holger Osieck's claims that young Australian players often lack the 'desire' to lift their game to the next level.
A blunt and candid Osieck made clear his displeasure with the attitudes of some of the A-League's generation next earlier in the week, saying too many drift in and out of games.
"There have been a number of younger players that people would probably like to see (in the Socceroos) but, no," he said.
"You're never as good as you think you are. You're only as good as others think you are."
The German tactician said he was looking for long-term consistency, and made good on his words by selecting Melbourne Heart fullback Michael Marrone partly as an incentive for other players.
Halloran, who has had a breakout season for Gold Coast United, agrees that some youngsters perhaps get caught up in their own hype.
"Sometimes it's true. Sometimes there's a bit too much pressure on young players," Halloran said.
"They play two or three games and there's calls for them to be selected in the Socceroos when it probably isn't warranted."
While Halloran, 19, still has a long road ahead of him, his performances this term suggest he is well on track to delivering what Osieck is after.
The youngster was one of the standouts in a youthful Gold Coast side that pushed Central Coast to the limit in Wednesday's 3-3 draw at Skilled Park.
They fell short of what would have been a massive upset, but a confident Halloran said the club's current crop of new talent 'made a statement' - and if they can play at that level on a consistent basis, then Osieck will be faced with some welcome selection dilemmas.
"We didn't get the three points but we made our mark," he said.
"When a statement is made like that, when we did play well, the plaudits are well worth it.
"But you can't string just two or three good games together - you need 10 or 20."
"With young players sometimes inconsistency is the biggest problem but if you can do that, then selection for young players in the Socceroos would be well deserved."
The Cairns-born prodigy has featured 19 times for United this season, netting four times - including a goal of the season contender against the Mariners.
His peach of a strike came on the same night the Australian under-23 team were bundled out of London 2012 contention, failing to score in any of their five matches in the current round of qualifiers.
But Halloran said he harboured no ill feelings about being surprisingly overlooked for selection, despite his blistering domestic form.
"Any national team duties are always an honour and a privilege but the powers that be picked the team," he said.
"I'm happy to play for Gold Coast instead. We want to be a passing team and really just express ourselves.
"It's been a tough season but it's a good club and we play good football. I'm happy to stay here as long as possible."