With a host of Melbourne Victory’s senior squad [Milligan, Georgievski, Barbarouses, Galloway, Geria, Pain] absent due to international duty, coach Kevin Muscat has included Youth NPL Victoria players Thomas Deng, Kieran Dover, George Howard and Joey Katebian in the extended squad to face Central Coast Mariners this friday. “I’ve got no reservations with throwing the youngsters in … they’ve earned their chance,” Muscat said.
Whilst two are still to be omitted from the team, three of the four players could make their Victory debut, while Kieran Dover is lining up for his second senior appearance.
Thomas Deng
Position: Right-back
2014 Club: Green Gully (NPL)
Following Chris Cristaldo’s departure to Werribee City, Thomas Deng is now the Victory youth captain. He played as a defensive midfielder in the Green Gully under-20’s before coach Bob Stojcevski helped him transition into a fullback. Playing on the right side of defence, Deng is athletic, reads play well and is confident on the ball going forward. Could be the second player of South Sudanese origin to feature in the A-League, behind Adelaide United’s Awer Mabil.
Kieran Dover
Position: Attacking midfielder/winger
2014 Club: Dandenong Thunder (NPL)
Dover is no stranger to the senior team, making a 90th minute debut against Sydney FC in Round 6. The 18-year-old already has two goals to his name in the NPL 1. Dover made a lasting impression in Dandenong Thunder’s 2014 NPL campaign, earning the Rising Star of the Month (Rounds 17-21) award and scored five goals in a struggling Thunder team that towards the end of the season was looming near relegation. Before that, Dover was nurtured by Stuart Munro at the Rowville Secondary Football Academy, with the Scotsman giving the youngster his senior debut with Thunder in 2013.
George Howard
Position: Forward
2014 Club: Box Hill United (NPL 1)
English born, former Sheffield United academy player George Howard had only been in Australia a few years before making such an impression at state league clubs Eastern Lions and Box Hill United that Victory came knocking for his signature. The 6’2 forward is strong, quick and agile, able to both score goals and set them up. Has already featured in pre-season for Victory’s senior team, scoring in a friendly against Hume City (see article below).
READ MORE > A journey of circumstance for Victory’s Howard
Joseph Katebian
Position: Forward
2014 club: Bulleen Lions (NPL 1)
A typically powerful striker, Katebian had a standout 2014 season at Bulleen Lions, finishing equal top goalscorer in NPL 1 on 26 goals [including two hauls of four goals in a game], whilst also polling 23 votes in the Gold Medal [though ineligible to win due to suspension] and was a Player of the Month (Rounds 5-8). Has already scored three goals for Victory’s NPL team, including a wicked free kick against Springvale White Eagles.
Image Credits: Skip Fulton/NPL Vic Football