2015 Asian Cup: Daniel de Silva, Mustafa Amini, Luke Brattan and Josh Risdon in line for Socceroos debuts

ANGE Postecoglou named four uncapped players in his preliminary squad for the Asian Cup. So what do we know about these potential new Socceroos?

SPORT - A League, Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix, nib Stadium, Perth. Photo by Daniel Wilkins. PICTURED- Perth Glory's Danny De Silva celebrates the first goal of the game.

SOCCEROOS coach Ange Postecoglou has named four uncapped players in his preliminary squad for next month’s Asian Cup. So what do we know about potential new ‘Roos Daniel De Silva, Mustafa Amini, Luke Brattan and Josh Risdon?

Former Socceroos striker John Aloisi says there’s a chance none of the four will feature in January’s tournament, but with Postecoglou insisting he picked the squad with an eye on the future, the quartet now have a chance to stake their national claims for January and beyond.

Daniel De Silva

At just 17, Daniel De Silva has the footballing world at his feet. After debuting for Perth Glory at the tender age of 15 (the second youngest player in A-League history), the attacking midfielder’s talents have seen Italian giants AS Roma snap him up on an undisclosed deal, reported to be potentially worth an A-League-record $2.5m. De Silva will move to Italy at the end of the season, but Postecoglou has his eye the teenager after watching him grow into a first-teamer at the ladder-leading Glory.

Perth Glory’s teenage wonder Daniel de Silva

Aloisi says that De Silva is the most likely of the uncapped brigade to survive the cull when Postecoglou names his 23-man squad by December 30.

“He had a really good under-20 World Cup last year and he’s probably the biggest talent we’ve got coming through at the moment,” Aloisi said.

“He could go and reach the very top. I think that he’s one that Ange will look for in the future. “Whether he will pick him for this Asian Cup I don’t know. He’s exciting and I can’t wait to see what he’s going to produce in the future.”

Already with two goals this season - one in the A-League and one in the FFA Cup - if De Silva continues his goalscoring form, he’ll make it hard for Postecoglou to ignore him.

Mustafa Amini

It is a blast from the past?

Amini burst on to the scene as a teen tearaway back in 2010, starring for the Central Coast Mariners on their charge to the A-League grand final.

His eye-catching performances as an attacking midfielder helped him secure a contract with German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund, but he was loaned back to the Mariners.

Mustafa Amini in action.

Injuries have since hampered Amini’s progress, and while he’s yet to make his senior debut for Dortmund he has been plying away for the club’s reserve team in Germany’s third division.

“I can only go off what I remember Amini was like when he played for the Mariners,” Aloisi said.

“He was a player that took up really good positions in between defence and the opposition’s midfield and was able to get on the ball and make that final pass.

“I don’t know how he’s been going at Borussia Dortmund but he’s at a big club. All right he’s in their second team but if he’s performing well I’m sure Ange is across the way he’s been playing.”

Luke Brattan

Will Postecoglou and his former protege at Brisbane be reunited?

It seems a long shot, but the calls for Brattan’s inclusion in the national team have been increasing as the classy playmaker has grown into his role within the Roar midfield.

While Brisbane’s title defence has hit the skids this season, Brattan’s form hasn’t been overly hurt by the side’s poor showing.

Luke Brattan was coached by Postecoglou during the coach’s time at the Roar.

Fox Sports Stats show that he leads the league for total passes (635) while he’s second for completed passes (500).

Aloisi believes that while the Asian Cup might come too soon for Brattan, his selection in this 46-man squad could be an important stepping stone.

“He’s still young and at least he’s on Ange’s radar,” Aloisi said.

“This might be something that he needs to take that next step. I think Luke Brattan’s got great ability to go on and play even better than he has played.”

Josh Risdon

Since being told to lose his Christmas kilos at the start of the year by coach Kenny Lowe, young defender Josh Risdon has developed into a key member of Perth Glory’s defensive unit.

His statistics at right-back this season have been impressive - he leads the league in clean tackle wins (12), is third in effective tackles with 35, while his two assists shows he’s an attacking full-back - a trademark of Postecoglou’s teams.

Perth Glory defender Josh Risdon pushes past Archie Thompson.

Aloisi says he’d be surprised if Risdon featured in January, but says he has the talent to challenge Ivan Franjic and Chris Herd for the side’s right-back berth.

“He’s one of those boys that can get up and down (the pitch),” Aloisi said.

“I thought that last season he had a disappointing year compared to the first season when he burst on to the scene. But he’s proving now that he can play good football week in, week out. “When you’re playing in a winning side you’re confident and that’s probably what Ange looked at as well. He’s playing with confidence and something that (Postecoglou) is looking at for the future.”

Originally published as 2015 Asian Cup: Daniel de Silva, Mustafa Amini, Luke Brattan and Josh Risdon in line for Socceroos debuts