Melbourne City defender Curtis Good back on Socceroos radar after years of injury issues
It’s been a long time coming, but Melbourne City defender Curtis Good is back playing regular football and in the frame to add to his one Socceroos appearance.
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Weeks out from Brazil 2014, virtually standing on one leg, the Socceroos coach gave him every chance of making the final squad with a view to starting in the World Cup.
Four years on, Curtis Good struggled to get A-League trials let alone a minimum wage, $60,000 contract.
Good was knocking on the door of a Premier League debut – sitting on the bench in Newcastle United’s loss to Manchester City in 2013 and making League Cup and FA Cup appearances.
But a meagre 18 senior games in six years saw clubs lose confidence in Good, and the defender question his body.
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Socceroos coach Graham Arnold recently revealed that the left-footer was back on his radar – with Good finally dreaming of adding to his solitary cap, an impressive 68-minute display against Ecuador in March 2014, when his injury woes began.
“I’d love to get picked. It’s not even a full cap is it? 60 minutes,” Good said.
“It was (an experience) – positive and negative. That feeling of being in the camp and lining up (for the Socceroos) before kick off’s special. Something you chase.
“It’s great (to be watched). Makes you appreciate the hard work you put in to get back.”
Good recalled how Ange Postecoglou and the medical staff’s plan to try and get his hip flexor right for the World Cup opener against Chile when he was named in an extended squad.
“I was carrying it, they were aware. But after conversations (with Socceroos staff) I felt I was a chance. Wasn’t get in there day one and hit the ground running, there was a plan. But it just got to the stage where I couldn’t run, couldn’t lift my legs,” he said.
“Against the clock it was never going to happen. In hindsight, it probably would’ve been better to concentrate on rehab. But it was a chance to go to the World Cup, you do everything you can.”
Fast forward to 2018, and Good was merely trying to convince coaches of a trial - home and abroad, as Adelaide United and Blackpool erred.
“I wasn’t in a great situation to be honest, no clubs wanted to punt on me,” Good said.
“I went to Blackpool for trial, pulled my hamstring first 15 minutes of a friendly. That was a slap in the face. Then coach (Gary Bowyer) left.
“I thought City would be great because that (he played for Heart in 2011-12) was one of my best seasons. Grateful they signed me.”
Fifteen full games and counting this season for Good, 26, who’s another Aussie late bloomer.
Originally published as Melbourne City defender Curtis Good back on Socceroos radar after years of injury issues