Melbourne Victory youth coach Darren Davies is a happy man these days as his team sit pretty joint top of the National Youth League standings.
Their latest result was a 4-1 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers at Lakeside Stadium, as Andrew Nabbout and Jimmy Jeggo both staked their senior claims with well taken goals.
Following Kevin Muscat’s appointment as Victory head coach, Davies has been performing a dual role of caretaker assistant coach and youth coach but the team’s performances have not suffered so far.
The Welshman admits it’s been a bit tough juggling both roles with the fixtures throwing up away games for the seniors while the youth play at home, but says he is relishing the extra responsibility.
“We’ve been flying back and forwards,” Davies said.
“It’s been overly busy but I’ve enjoyed it and moving forward who knows what will happen.
“All I know is here and now, I’m enjoying working with Kevin, we get on well and I’m enjoying it.
“But my bread and butter is the youth team. Coming back and seeing the boys perform well is my main job and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”
Jimmy Jeggo was one player who caught the eye on Sunday afternoon, as his brace set up Victory’s fine win.
The midfielder has become a forgotten man this season, falling behind Rashid Mahazi in the pecking order for the seniors, but his form in the youth team has not gone completely unnoticed.
Davies believes that he should get his first team chance in the future, but at the moment has to put in the hard yards, as well as continue to help nurture the next crop of youngsters.
“If Jimmy’s not playing in the first team which at the moment he’s not, I’m sure he will get his opportunity at some point, he needs to be contributing well to the youth team,” he said.
“All of our overage players are such that they’re all ’92 born so they’re all 21-22 themselves.
“They come with the right attitude as I expect but in fairness to them they really help the young people around them which is a big part as well.
“We’ve got a number of youngies who are playing in and around them and it’s good that they’re helping them along as well.”
Another one of the overage players who has been involved recently is Gui Finkler.
The Brazilian has been featuring off the bench for the seniors but has been gaining match fitness playing for the youth side, and Davies believes he’s not far from his best.
“Gui’s obviously lost a lot of football through a very serious injury and this is obviously part of Gui’s rehabilitation,” he said
“He’s fully fit and he’s doing well, he’s contributing well when he’s coming on with the first team and I think it’s part of the head coach’s decision that he wants to get 90 minutes into Gui.
“He didn’t play 90 today, it was a long trip back [from Sydney], and I think a lot of the boys didn’t get to bed until late last night so he’s played another 63 [minutes].
‘So it’s all part of the process of Gui getting back to full fitness so that he can be back to where he was last year which I’m sure he’s not very far away from.”
Victory Youth now travel to Adelaide next week, with Davies clocking up more frequent flyer miles as the seniors are also playing Adelaide but at home the day before.