Olyroo O'Neill 'open to offers' with Burnley future in the balance

Olyroos midfielder Aiden O'Neill is weighing up his future after being offered a new deal by Burnley amidst interest from several other clubs.

Aiden O'Neill

Aiden O'Neill in action for Burnley, prior to his loan stint with the Central Coast Mariners Source: AAP

The 20-year-old loanee was one of the few beacons of light in an otherwise grim season for the Central Coast, taking out the Mariners Medal and Players’ Player of the Year awards with four goals from his 23 appearances.

He must now make a decision on his next step to further cement his club and national team futures - with regular senior football at the highest attainable echelon his paramount ambition.

“It was a difficult year for the Mariners and hence personally as a player,” O’Neill told The World Game after the club’s slump to a third wooden spoon in four seasons.

“I will have a few weeks off to spend with my family in Brisbane and I’ll see what my options are.

“My contract with Burnley finishes in June. So I could potentially be left without a contract next season.

“There’s interest from other clubs and Burnley have made an offer, but I need to make the right decision to satisfy my short and long term goals - to play football at the highest level possible.”

O’Neill, who turns 21 in July, has made three Premier League appearances off the bench for Burnley and has had previous loan spells at Fleetwood Town and Oldham Athletic.

Should he re-sign at Turf Moor, the club he joined in 2016, it will be because he believes he’s got a genuine shot at being part of coach Sean Dyche’s first team plans.

“I am almost 21 years old and I know it’s important for me to be playing and growing as a player,” he said.

“I don’t think I can get that sitting on the bench so loans are always an option.

“After all, the reward for training hard all week is the game on the weekend. That’s why we play football.

“My ambitions will never change. I want to play at the highest level. I still want to represent my country.

“Playing for your country at any level is amazing. I loved every second of it. I would love to make the senior squad one day.”

Whilst he would consider another A-League stint, proving himself in the cut-throat environment of England has a magnetic attraction.

“I am open to all offers at the moment. I really enjoyed my time in the A-League. I loved playing in front of my Grandmas and Pa,” he added.

“Unfortunately one of my grandpas passed away last June.

“That was one of my motivating factors - to have my grandparents see me play in the flesh.

“Would I like to do more of that? Of course.

“But I do miss the intensity of the football in England though. It is life and death over there to the fans and that transmits to the intensity in each game.

“I would love to see that at every A-League game too.“

With the Olyroos needing to finish in the top four of the AFC Olympic Games qualifiers in Thailand in January, O’Neill is dreaming of Tokyo.

“There aren’t too many Australian teams that have made the Olympics in the past few so to play there would be fantastic,” he said.

“I have to be selected first. I certainly don’t take anything like that for granted. We have to qualify beforehand anyway and that will be extremely tough.

“Will it define my career if we don’t get there? I don’t think so. It certainly won’t harm it though.”


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4 min read
Published 22 May 2019 12:34pm
By Dave Lewis


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