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Payne is top of the class

22 July 2008 | 21:51 - SBS EXCLUSIVE: Philip Micallef

Schoolboy sensation ... Sydney FC striker Chris Payne (Terry Aylett - Sydney FC)

When a high-profile club like Sydney FC gave a two-year contract to a 17-year-old striker on the basis of his form in the NSW Premier League, they had to be pretty sure of what they were doing.

Chris Payne, the schoolboy sensation from Umina on the Central Coast, signed a two-year deal with the A-League giants in the off-season.

And he started to repay the faith shown in him by scoring twice in a trial match against his current club Manly United, four days after making his debut for Sydney against Sutherland.

Payne continued to raise many eyebrows with another goal in Sydney’s 2-1 win over Queensland Roar in the Pre-Season Cup at the weekend.

With strikers John Aloisi and Brendon Santalab both injured and Mark Bridge on Olyroos duty, Payne should play some part in Sydney's second match against the Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium on Sunday.

“Things are happening too fast for me,” said Payne, who actually was born in Gosford, which of course is Central Coast Mariners territory.

“I’ve had no time to think about what’s happening to me. But it has come as a big surprise.”

Sydney coach John Kosmina, who has seen many so-called prodigious talents fall by the wayside because of their lack of dedication, understandably was reluctant to heap too much praise on his young gun.

“He’s got the potential to become a good A-League player and he may have slipped through the radar of the development squads,” Kosmina said.

“He’s got the knack for goals and you don’t acquire these things. He can become a very good player as long as this early success does not go to his head and he works at his game.

“He’s been given the chance and now it’s really up to him.”

Payne, who is still on Manly’s books and will be eligible to play in the A-League next month, admitted he was unaware of Sydney’s interest in him.

“I didn’t even know they were looking at me. Then a week or two later I signed for Sydney FC,” he said with a mixture of pride and bewilderment.

He also admitted that the fact he did not know of the presence of Sydney scouts at Manly’s games might have been a blessing in disguise, otherwise he could have felt nervous.

Payne goes to Narrabeen High and is busily preparing for his HSC while juggling his football commitments.

“The sport subjects are my favorites,” Payne said.

“I train every afternoon and whenever I get the opportunity I do my schoolwork. I prefer to do sport, though.”

Payne said that he was essentially a right-footer but would be prepared to play in any position up front if the opportunity came about.

“When I first went to train with Sydney I was a bit nervous,” Payne explained.

“But the players were nice and made me feel comfortable.

“Especially Aloisi, who went out of his way to make sure I was OK. Yes, you can say he’s a champion on and off the field.

“Hopefully I’ll get a few games in the A-League but, of course, I cannot expect to walk my way into the side. But if the chance came I’ll take it.”

Payne said he was pretty happy with the way things were panning out but he admitted that he needed to address a few things in his game.

“I need to improve in the way I get into scoring positions and setting up opportunities for the team,” he said.

Payne’s development has also been helped by Socceroos defender Lucas Neill, who runs a scholarship program through Manly Utd.

Last year Payne received the Lucas Neill Scholarship and spent time at Blackburn and West Ham, at which time Neill took the teenage striker under his wing.

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