Socceroos keeper Mat Ryan frustrated at Valencia

Frustrated Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan will consider requesting a January transfer away from Valencia.

Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan may look to switch clubs when the transfer window opens in January. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan may consider requesting a transfer away from Spanish club Valencia if he’s not bumped up the pecking order.

Ryan has played just 10 La Liga matches for 15th-placed Valencia — only two this season — as he continues to play second fiddle to Brazilian Diego Alves, while also competing against a third quality keeper in local Jaume Domenech.

Adding to Ryan’s angst is the instability that has reigned at the former La Liga high-flyers since he joined them from Club Brugge on a six-year deal in July 2015.

Since that time the club has had five different managers.

Ryan, 24, is anxious to play regularly, acutely aware he’s still yet to hit his prime and that his main rival for the Socceroos No 1 jersey, Mitch Langerak, is getting regular game time for Bundesliga side VFB Stuttgart.

Ryan said if nothing changes he may be forced to start looking elsewhere in the January transfer window.

“It’s still a long way away,” Ryan said in Bangkok, where the Australian team are preparing for a World cup qualifier against Thailand.

“But obviously common sense will tell you that with the situation like it is at my club, if I’m not getting the desired game time then I’ll be looking at my options.

“That’s all I have to say about that at the moment.

“A lot can happen between now and January when that window opens.”

Ryan, who is almost certain to start against Thailand tomorrow night, admitted he probably wouldn’t really appreciate what he’s learned from the toughest period of his career until further down the track.

“I knew going to a club like that, that competition for places was going to be tough, but knowing it and living it are two different things,” he said. “Having what it might be in your head to the reality, I’ve witnessed that first hand and you’ve just got to not take it for granted.

“Any opportunity you get to play you have to make the most of it. One bad day at the office can be the difference, a change in manager can be the difference — any tiny thing can be the difference.

“I just have to appreciate the privilege I have at a big club like Valencia instead of having a negative-minded approach to it in terms of not being happy because I’m not playing.”

Meanwhile, Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou is pondering his options at striker to counter what he believes will be a defence-minded Thailand.

Postecoglou looks set to deploy a 4-3-3 formation to execute his attacking philosophy for the match in Bangkok.

With Robbie Kruse and Mat Leckie near certain to flank a centre forward, speculation now surrounds whether Brisbane striker Jamie Maclaren will be handed his competitive international debut.

Even in the absence of Tim Cahill and Tomi Juric, Postecoglou is confident in the goal threats at his disposal, with Apo Giannou and Nathan Burns back in the squad.

And while he’s yet to decide who’ll start up front, he signalled bolter Maclaren would be ready should he be called upon to take service from attacking wizards Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic.

“He wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think he was ready,” Postecoglou said. “Sometimes with these things you’ve got to take your opportunity when it’s presented.

“There’s no ideal time — if you wait for players to gain experience or feel better about themselves that opportunity may never come.

“If I select him I’ll believe he’s ready, then it’s up to him to take that opportunity.”

AAP