Curtis Good returns to Melbourne City

Forgotten Socceroo Curtis Good is returning to the A-League with Melbourne City in a bid to revive his career.

Melbourne City signing Curtis Good yesterday. Picture: AAP

Forgotten Socceroo Curtis Good is returning to the A-League in a bid to revive his career.

After seven largely frustrating seasons in Europe, the defender has signed a one-year deal with Melbourne City, the club where it all started for him as a professional in 2011.

Good, 25, played with Melbourne Heart, which later became Melbourne City, in the 2011-12 season, emerging as one of the best young prospects in Australia. He was picked up by English Premier League club Newcastle United in June 2012.

However, he suffered a serious hip injury in his Socceroos debut in a friendly against Ecuador in 2014 and it severely affected his career.

Good made just one League Cup appearance for Newcastle and was loaned out to lower league club Bradford City during the 2012-13 season. He managed just three games for Bradford before another loan to Scottish club Dundee United, where he made four appearances.

Despite recovering from his injury, Good has managed just 32 games in seven years and was eventually released by Newcastle at the end of last season.

He returned home to Victoria and has been trialling with City for the past week.

Good said he was motivated to prove himself again.

“I learnt a lot over in the UK but unfortunately my opportunities were curbed a little by the injury I picked up with the Socceroos. I’m motivated to work hard in training and remind everybody what I can do,” Good said.

“I’m looking forward to competing for my place and helping the side push for success this year. This is a club with big ambitions and it has grown a lot since I was last here — we have to aim high this year.”

City coach Warren Joyce said he was delighted to give Good the chance to prove himself again. “Curtis is a quality defender who still has a lot of potential,” he said.

“He returned to Melbourne on a week-long trial and has shown the attitude and desire needed to rebuild his career after suffering an injury setback.

“With the support of our coaching staff and the rest of the players, Curtis has the chance to push and challenge for a place in the team and set himself back on the right track.”

Good won’t take any part in City’s FFA Cup match against Western Sydney Wanderers at AAMI Park tonight.

However, recent signing Ritchie de Laet is a possibility.

“I’m ready to go. I’ll get a good session into me today (Tuesday) and decide what the gaffer does with me for the game,” de Laet said. “I just want to play football again and enjoy it. I know what the gaffer expects of the team so I just want to get out there and do my thing.”

Joyce said de Laet, who was capped three times by Belgium and played with the likes of Leicester City and Aston Villa, will be a huge addition to the squad.

“He can play in a range of different roles. I know what he can give us, he’s got versatility and that’s important in a league like this,” Joyce said.

The winner of tonight’s match will advance to the Cup semi-finals.