Adelaide United must back in local talent to turn its A-League season around

ADELAIDE United is two games way from a complete disaster and will possibly be facing its worst start to a season when it faces Perth Glory next week.

Macquarie Park resident Alex Mullen is about to start his first season as a professional footballer with Sydney FC as a Mature Age Rookie.

ADELAIDE United is two games way from a complete disaster and will possibly be facing its worst start to a season when it faces Perth Glory next week.

Former coach Josep Gombau managed to pull Adelaide out of a slump in December 2013 when the club had just six points after nine rounds.

Adelaide then made the top six in 2014, claimed the FFA Cup and again made the play offs in 2015.

But since Gombau arrived and before he left in July, young local talent has struggled to get a look-in at the Reds. Apart from Awer Mabil, who was unleashed by former boss John Kosmina before being sold this year to a Danish club, young homegrown players have not been regular starters.

It’s hard to fathom that former Birkalla player Ryan Kitto, 21, is now a Newcastle Jet after he looked promising when Gombau gave him just two chances off the bench before releasing him last year.

Kitto’s new Jets boss, Scott Miller, heaped praise on his latest acquisition after Sunday’s 0-0 draw with the Reds at Hindmarsh. Surely there’s another Kitto in the second tier.

It’s up to Adelaide to find him and give him a chance after Football Federation Australia in August made a significant announcement that has given older Australian players renewed hope.

Clubs can now sign a mature-age rookie outside the salary cap and Sydney FC has wasted no time.

Coach Graham Arnold liked the new ruling and signed former Para Hills midfielder Alex Mullen.Mullen sits outside the cap because he met the mature-age rookie criteria.

He is over 21, hasn’t played in a fully professional competition for the past 18 months and last played football in Australia. These type of players must be paid at least the minimum salary.

Bargains for Adelaide are, perhaps, waiting in the wings — go get them, Guillermo.

Originally published as Adelaide United must back in local talent to turn its A-League season around