Asian Cup 2019: Rene Muelensteen sees bright future

Assistant coach Rene Muelensteen predicts a new generation of Socceroos could earn moves to big clubs.

Chris Ikonomidis has eyes for the ball against Syria. Picture: Getty Images.

They’re in the shop window, and assistant Socceroos coach Rene Muelensteen predicts a new generation of stars could earn big club moves off the back of strong Asian Cup campaigns.

Young talent has stepped up in the absence of retired veterans and injured mainstays, with Awer Mabil, Chris Ikonomidis and Rhyan Grant in particular making the most of their unexpected first-team promotions.

Ikonomidis has been immense in a wide attacking role, where he has scored a goal and had four ­assists in two starts, against Palestine and Syria.

Muelensteen is taken with the 23-year-old’s technical pedigree and mental approach, the forward having developed as a teenager in Italy at Lazio before signing a three-year deal with Perth Glory this season.

Ikonomidis has said he has been in regular contact with Glory coach Tony Popovic, who can’t wait for him to return to the A-League. But it seems only a matter of time before the Glory cash in on a lucrative transfer.

“He can go as far as he wants because he’s got the potential and personality, and the intelligence for it,” Muelensteen said.

“He’s an exciting player to watch, he makes something happen. He’s got an eye for a pass, he can beat a man. He’s actually not the finished article.

“Sometimes for those players when they get to a higher level, for some it becomes more difficult, for others it becomes easier because players are at the same level as them. Better players bring the best out of the better players.”

At 27, Grant is older and spent a decade at Sydney FC before ­finally making his Socceroos debut in November, a few months after returning from a long lay-off due to an ACL rupture. The right-back’s chance arrived at the expense of injured Josh Risdon, but he has handled the responsibility with aplomb under former Sky Blues coach Graham Arnold, despite the step up in intensity.

Although Grant has said playing abroad was never a priority, he hasn’t ruled out considering any offers. And five caps into Grant’s international career, Muelensteen said it still wasn’t too late given his work­rate and ability.

“What I like about him is his relaxedness, his focus,” Muelensteen said. “There’s hardly any real nerves or anxiety, he just gets on with the job.

“He’s powerful, he’s positive going forward. In that position he could still have four or five good years in a good league.”

Mabil has score twice and attracted global attention for his goal celebration to raise awareness about mental health. The 23-year-old only recently re-signed for four years with Denmark’s FC Midtjylland after ­finally breaking into the first team, but Danes could soon face competition.

Socceroos midfielder Jackson Irvine said. “With a fully fit squad he might not have had the opportunity to play the amount of minutes he’s played, and he’s grabbed it with both hands.”