Socceroo Mitch Duke has a ‘big decision’ to make about his club future
With competition heating up for spots in the Socceroos’ forward line, Mitch Duke wants to make sure he’s getting enough game time at club level to show his worth.
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Socceroos striker Mitch Duke is weighing up his future with his club Machida Zelvia, where he has been confined to a bench role since the team’s promotion to Japan’s top-flight.
Duke, 33, is yet to start at J1 League match this season, with his 15 appearances all coming off the bench.
His only starts this year have been in two J-League Cup games. Overall in 2024, Duke has scored four goals in 17 appearances in all competitions for Zelvia.
And while he has enjoyed contributing to his promoted side’s unexpected rise to the top of the J1 League ladder, Duke’s lack of substantial game time has him contemplating his options ahead of July’s transfer window.
“With my competitiveness, it’s definitely starting to come through where I’m going to have to make a big decision coming into this transfer window,” the former Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners star said.
“I’ve had some conversations with my club, so I guess we’ll see what goes on from there.
“I’m just focusing on trying to take my chances when I get them ... and the last month has been really good.
“I’ve hit some goal-scoring form going, the club’s really happy with what I’m doing, and we’ll see what happens with more playing minutes.
“If not then Japan’s (transfer) window opens up in July. and I’ll have to make a big decision coming to that point when it gets to it.”
Increased playing time would also help Duke in his bid to remain a key part of national coach Graham Arnold’s Socceroos’ plans on the journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Currently in camp with the Socceroos ahead of Thursday night’s World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh in Dhaka and next Tuesday’s battle with Palestine in Perth, Duke – who has been capped 39 times – is well aware of battle for the central attacking role in Australia’s top 11.
“The more competition the better. That’s only going to improve our squad depth,” he said.
“It’s actually great to see how many more strikers we have at our disposal, and some of the amazing seasons that they’ve had, with ‘Tags’ (Adam Taggart), ‘Stama’ (Apostolos Stamatelopoulos), Kusini (Yengi) ... and myself can put my hand up.
“We’ve got ‘Lecks’ (Mathew Leckie) that can also play that role, and even ‘Boyley’ (Martin Boyle) as well, so we’ve got a lot of attacking power.
“I love that competition, I welcome it, and it’ll be interesting to see who can put their hand up and show themselves in training and see who gets selected for the Bangladesh game and the Palestine game.”
Originally published as Socceroo Mitch Duke has a ‘big decision’ to make about his club future
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