10 young stars to watch in the A-League

With the A-League season around the corner, it's time to take a look at which youngsters will be the movers and shakers in season 2015-2016.

A-League young guns

Adelaide's Bruce Kamau, Newcastle's Mitch Cooper, Melbourne City's Jacob Melling and Phoenix's Matthew Ridenton are four of the young players poised to make their presence felt in the A-League (Getty) Source: Getty Images

The 2015-2016 season starts early next month, so be sure to join the .

The World Game has spoken to the experts and picked out one young player from each club who will go on to make an impact this season.

So, show off your knowledge to your mates, and start taking notes.

Bruce Kamau - Adelaide United

Kamau made two appearances for the Reds last season and the club is hoping he can play a similar role to Awer Mabil, who earned himself a transfer to Danish club FC Midtjylland with his electrifying performances.

Kamau bears more than passing resemblance to Mabil in his style of play, so it's easy to see why Adelaide feels the 20 year-old could replicate the feats of the Olyroos winger on the pitch.

Abraham Yango - Brisbane Roar

Yango made his A-League debut in April and Brisbane believes the youngster will push for regular first-team selection this season.

The 19 year-old from Liberia got on the scoresheet for Roar in its recent 10-0 demolition of a Gold Coast All Stars side.

Harry Ascroft - Central Coast Mariners

Ascroft signed with the Mariners in July after making seven appearances for VVV-Venlo in the Dutch second division during the past two seasons.

The 20 year-old also scored on debut for Australia in the 2014 AFF Under-19 Championship.

Mariners coach Tony Walmsley described Ascroft as “a long-term prospect” but expects him to push for a spot immediately.

Jacob Melling - Melbourne City

The defensive-midfielder was impressive for City last season, making 13 appearances and scoring one goal.

Melling started his career at Adelaide United but his two-year tenure at the club only yielded nine matches for the first team.

City believes the 20 year-old, who missed last season’s final series with a knee injury, can bounce back and play a decisive role in John van 't Schip's side.

Here is one of Melling’s career highlights to-date - or should we say low-lights?

Thomas Deng - Melbourne Victory

The Nairabi-born 18 year-old is an athletic defender, who can play on the right or in the centre and has already represented the Young Socceroos.

Deng, who captained Victory’s NPL 1 side last season, made his first-team debut in the recent FFA Cup tie against Balmain Tigers, and followed it up with another appearance against Rockdale City Suns.

Victory coach Kevin Muscat made it clear during the pre-season that he will blood youngsters to keep the heat on established players, which is great news for Deng.

Mitch Cooper - Newcastle Jets

Cooper, another 20 year-old, is most famous for being the youngest captain in A-League history - which coincided with his first-team debut.

Cooper was only 17 years and 152 days old at the time when he led Gold Coast United, at the behest of Clive Palmer, but knee injuries since then have seen him in and out of the A-League fold.

With a full pre-season under his belt though, the Jets believe the midfielder will shine under new coach Scott Miller.

Hagi Gligor - Perth Glory

Diminutive midfielder Gligor broke through at Sydney FC under Frank Farina, but never really cemented his place.

There was no room for him in the Sky Blues' star-studded midfield last season but the central midfielder has found a home at Perth Glory.

With neat passing and excellent vision, Gligor has always been tipped for big things so don't be surprised to see him make an impact for Kenny Lowe's side .

Riley Woodcock - Sydney FC

The talented defender will compete with teenage hotshot Alex Gersbach for the left-back position at Sydney FC. 

Woodcock signed with the Sky Blues in June from Perth Glory.

The 20 year-old played 13 times for Glory in 2013-2014 but managed a lone appearance last season due to the form of Scott Jamieson.

But don’t be surprised to see Woodcock, who has represented Australia at U-17, U-20 and U-23 level, selected regularly by Graham Arnold - who is wary of overplaying Gersbach.

Woodcock has made a decent impression in pre-season too, playing in the FFA Cup win over Sorrento and the loss to Adelaide United.

Here are a few of his defensive skills on show for Perth.

Matthew Ridenton - Wellington Phoenix

The 19 year-old midfielder has already made 16 appearances for Wellington, but only three of them came last season.

While a knee injury in the second-half of the 2014-2015 campaign stalled Ridenton's progress, Wellington is hopeful that the New Zealand international - one cap to his credit to date - can ignite his career this season.

Jonathan Aspropotamitis - Western Sydney Wanderers

'Aspro' made his debut last season and was impressive, racking up eight appearances in the process.

The 19 year-old central-defender looked quite composed after being rotated into the squad by coach Tony Popovic and should feature more prominently after the departure of Matthew Spiranovic to China.

Other notable young stars to watch

Jordan Elsey (Adelaide United), Thomas Love (Adelaide United), Mitchell Hore (Brisbane Roar), Liam Rose (Central Coast Mariners), Wade Dekker (Melbourne City), Marc Marino (Melbourne City), Andy Brennan (Newcastle Jets), Brandon O’Neill (Sydney FC) and Lachlan Campbell (Western Sydney Wanderers).


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5 min read
Published 10 September 2015 11:01am
Updated 11 September 2015 1:36pm
By Patrick Nugent
Source: SBS

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