Asian Cup 2015: Mark Bresciano tips Socceroos midfielder James Troisi to make an impact

BELGIUM-based midfielder James Troisi looks set to be the bolter for the Socceroos Asian Cup opener against Kuwait on Friday night..

Australian Socceroos Training Session

BELGIUM-based James Troisi looks set to be the bolter for the Socceroos Asian Cup opener against Kuwait on Friday night.

YOUR ONE-STOP ASIAN CUP HUB

GROUP-BY-GROUP GUIDE TO ASIAN CUP

THE 10 ASIAN CUP STARS TO WATCH

SIMON HILL’S FIVE GAMES NOT TO BE MISSED

ROBBIE SLATER’S TEAM-BY-TEAM ASIAN CUP PREVIEW

PICK YOUR SOCCEROOS XI WITH OUR TEAM SELECTOR

Seemingly locked in a three-way battle with FC Utrect’s Tommy Oar and Swindon Town’s Massimo Luongo to start alongside Mark Bresciano in midfield at AAMI Park, Zulte-Waregem’s Troisi received a rousing endorsement from the Socceroos veteran on Wednesday.

James Troisi meets the fans during a Socceroos training session.

The Australian team trained in sweltering Melbourne heat at South Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium on Wednesday morning in what was the first session held behind closed doors since the pre-tournament camp begun on December 28.

It is likely that this would have been the first session in which coach Ange Postecoglou showed some of his cards in relation to his preferred starting line-up, but as it stands only captain and holding midfielder Mile Jedinak and Bresciano seem assured of winning starting berths in the centre of the park.

Mark Milligan and Matt McKay are others in the mix, but Bresciano said after training that Troisi had been particularly impressive.

“James Troisi has come in very good,” Bresciano said.

“He’s probably for me the player who looks in the best shape and really made an impact.”

Asked about Bresciano’s comments a short time later, Troisi it was nice that “a player of his quality and calibre” had such positive things to say.

“For me, I’ve been on the books for quite a while but haven’t had so much game time,” Troisi said.

“But I think the last couple of months I’ve been coming in to camp and playing a bit more regularly.

“I’m in good form overseas at the moment and I want to continue that. I’ve been working hard, we all have, and I’m really looking forward to this tournament.”

Since joining Zulte on August 29, Troisi has played 16 games and scored four goals.

He featured off the bench in two games in Brazil and has played in the last three Socceroos friendlies, starting twice.

The 26-year-old is in career-form, but was not willing to declare himself a certain starter against Kuwait.

“Everyone wants to get in the starting XI,” he said.

“But even if you’re not Ange has made it quite clear that everyone has to be ready.”

Bresciano also spoke highly of Luongo.

“I like the way he plays, I like his style,” Bresciano said.

“I don’t see him much at club level, but every time he comes in he shows what he can do.”

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Mark Bresciano tips Socceroos midfielder James Troisi to make an impact