Matt McKay reveals the Brisbane Roar player he says has Usain Bolt ‘covered’, Melbourne City loanee Denis Genreau reflects on his remarkable rise, and a young Newcastle Jets striker has moved to Croatia.
It's all in this week’s Hyundai A-League Paper Talk.
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Roar ready for Bolt
There’s still a little water under the bridge to go before it happens but Brisbane Roar skipper Matt McKay is hoping to line-up against Usain Bolt when his side hosts Central Coast Mariners in the opening round of the new Hyundai A-League season.
And with Bolt’s likely possession to be on the left wing, McKay has no doubt Roar’s right-back Jack Hingert would relish the challenge.
“I’d love to see him up against Jack Hingert, and I reckon Jack would have him covered,” McKay told Roar’s official website.
“To potentially have him playing here in Round 1 is massive. It’d be a great chance for our fans to get along to see someone of his capabilities, and also to see him tested against our guys.
“It’s huge for our game. He’s obviously a worldwide success, and if can execute his athletics success into football, it will be great for the game.”
City loanee enjoying special few months
He’s made a great start to life in Europe and been called up for his first Caltex Socceroos camp in Turkey this week.
It’s fair to say teenager Denis Genreau – on loan at Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle from Hyundai A-League outfit Melbourne City - is in a pretty good place right now.
The 19-year-old scored six goals during the pre-season for the Bluefingers and has featured in three of the club’s first four games of the campaign.
While he’s been surprised at how quickly he’s settled to life in the Netherlands, Genreau praised the set-up at City and the influence of current coach John van ‘t Schip.
"I’ve always had a good relationship with John, and the way he wants to play football suits me a lot," Genreau told Goal Australia.
"The training environment that he created at Melbourne City was always great for my development, so obviously he was a big motivator for me to come over and to play and continue to learn under him."
"My goal is to stay in Europe and to continue to develop here. It’s been a lifelong dream to play in the European leagues, and at the moment I’m living my dream, and I don’t want it to stop."
Genreau’s remarkable rise has seen him picked in Graham Arnold’s first 30-man Caltex Socceroos for a training camp in Antalya in Turkey.
He’s been sharing a training pitch with the likes of Mile Jedinak, Aaron Mooy, Mat Ryan and Daniel Arzani – and loving every minute.
"This is a dream come true, and to know that the national team has been following me is great,” Genreau said.
"For me this is just the start, and there is so much hard work to come and to continue to improve, but this will be a great experience to compare myself against the best Australian players from around the world.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to show the coach what I can offer and also to get to know the other players and the staff."
Former Jet lands in Croatia
Young Aussie striker Mark Moric – who played for the Newcastle Jets last season – has joined Croatian club HNK Rijeka.
The 18-year-old has moved to Rijeka, who are one of the top teams in Croatia and finished the Prva HNL 2017/18 season in second position.
Moric, who is an Australian Under-17 representative, joined the Jets on a two-year scholarship deal in January last year before making the call to move on and challenge himself in Europe.
