FFA set to fight for Man City teenager Alex Robertson

FFA took the unprecedented step of inviting a 15-year-old to train with the Socceroos in their recent camp in Turkey.

Manchester City’s Australian teenager Alex Robertson.

Football Federation Australia took the unprecedented step of inviting a 15-year-old to train with the Socceroos in their recent camp in Turkey, it has been revealed.

FFA head of National Team performance Luke Casserly confirmed to The Australian yesterday they have been keeping a close eye on overseas-based rising star Alex Robertson and were keen to look at him during the week-long training camp under new coach Graham Arnold earlier this month.

However, Robertson, who plays for Manchester City’s under-15s, was refused permission to attend by his club because he was injured.

“We have known about him for some time. I know his father (Mark) very well as I played with him at Marconi and for the Socceroos,” Casserly said yesterday. “I suggested that we get him along for a look and Arnie was quite happy to do so.

“It would have only been for three or four days, not the full camp. But City came back to us and said he was injured.

“He is obviously a great talent and is doing very well over there. The good thing is that he has a good head on his shoulders and has great support around him with his family.”

The decision to invite Robertson was extraordinary given his age. Duncan Cummings, at 17 years and 139 days, is the youngest to have debuted for the Socceroos when he played twice in the mid 1970s.

Australia’s interest in Robertson is understandable even if he has already been earmarked by England. The attacking midfielder scored for England under-15s against Turkey in the final of a tournament last month.

However, he is also eligible to play for Scotland and Peru. He was born in Dundee while his father was playing with The Dee at the time, while his mother is Peruvian.

Robertson, who has been described as a box-to-box player who is also very good in attack, grew up in Sydney from the age of five. He played for local club Hakoah, the club his grand father Alex played for in the National Soccer League. He won a scholarship to Westfield Sports High before getting an opportunity overseas when his parents moved to England.

Robertson soon attracted interest and joined Manchester United. He played for the Reds at a tournament in Mallorca in April last year before City got under their guard and signed him to a scholarship. He went on to score four goals in his City debut.

Robertson has shown he has great character as he was forced to fight his way back from a serious hip injury late last year.

Understandably, the family is very protective of Alex, wanting him to go about his career with a minimum of fuss and with no added pressure from the media.

In terms of which country he will choose to play for, it is a decision which won’t be rushed.

The football genes are very strong in the Robertson family.

Mark played for Marconi and Wollongong Wolves in the NSL, as well as stints in England and Scotland with clubs such as Burnley, Swindon, Dundee and St Johnstone. He also had spells in the A-League with Perth Glory and Sydney FC and was capped once for the Socceroos.