Ex-Socceroo Duke aims to lift Wanderers from their A League slump

New Western Sydney Wanderers signing Mitchell Duke is confident he can provide the sharpness in attack and experience to reignite their A-League campaign.

Western Sydney Wanderers latest signing Mitchell Duke. Picture: WS Wanderers

• See how free childcare is helping asylum seekers
• Pioneering surgeon Dr Ahmad AlRubaie honoured

New Western Sydney Wanderers signing Mitchell Duke is confident he can provide the sharpness in attack and experience to reignite their A-League campaign.

The former Socceroo and Liverpool Rangers winger signed an 18-month contract with Wanderers after a four-year stint in Japan, where he played more than 100 matches for Shimizu S-Pulse.

“The J-League is unbelievable with the technical skills sharpness and speed of their player,” Duke, 28, said.

Mitchell Duke with his parents Bill and Arlene after surprising them at their Liverpool home. Picture: WS Wanderers

“It helped me grow a lot mentally because there were relegations and promotions unlike in the A-League.

“But I wanted to freshen myself and I looked at playing in Europe or Australia.

“It is good to be back at my doorstep again and I feel that I am at my peak age. I am ready to play my first game either at wing or up front.

“The Wanderers are actually not playing badly at the moment (they have gone nine games without a win) but get punished for their mistakes.

Mitchell Duke at Mariners training.

“I can help them eradicate their mistakes and help the younger players because I have a lot of experience.”

Last week, Duke surprised parents Arlene and Bill at their Lurnea home, to tell them he had signed with the Wanderers.

“My parents had been asking me to come back to Australia because they wanted to see me play,” said Duke, who has eight siblings.

“My wife Charlotte and I also wanted to raise our son Jaxson in Australia.

“I grew up in Liverpool so coming back to the Western Sydney Wanderers was an easy decision.

“It is a very good feeling to represent where you come from.”

He is keen to add to his four Australian caps but right now, he wants to give his best for the Wanderers.

“We will see how it goes but I would love to play for the Socceroos again because every Australian player wants to play for his country,” he said.

Duke started his career at Liverpool Rangers before progressing through the Central Coast Mariners Youth Academy. He turned out for Blacktown City before signing his first senior contract with the Mariners in 2012.