Midfielder Aiden O'Neill's ambition is to break into the Australia side while he's on a year-long loan with Central Coast Mariners.
The Brisbane-born player has joined Mike Mulvey's side from Burnley, for whom he's played four games over the past two years.
O'Neill played twice for Australia at U-23 level last year, but feels he'll improve his chances of a senior call-up if he does well in the A-League.
He said he had been keen to move to the Mariners when he found out Mulvey was interested in him, and is looking forward to pre-season.
A long-term goal of mine is also to break into the Socceroos squad.
Aidan O'Neill
"I'm coming on loan and I want to earn experience. I want to be involved and help the team push forward, if that helps me when it comes to Burnley then great but at the end of the day I am here to help the Mariners win games," added the 20-year-old.
"A long-term goal of mine is also to break into the Socceroos squad."
O'Neill moved to England in 2012 after playing youth football for Brisbane Athletic. He signed his first professional contract with Burnley in 2016 and made his senior debut as a substitute against Liverpool in a league cup tie.
He had a 15-game loan stint with Oldham Athletic last year, then moved to Fleetwood Town on a similar arrangement for the 2017/18 season.
Mulvey, who won the A-League championship with Brisbane Roar in 2013/14, is hoping bringing in a player with top-level experience can help the Mariners challenge for the Finals Series.
The Gosford club finished bottom of the table last season, dropping below Wellington Phoenix on the last day of the campaign.
"Any player who trains regularly with an EPL club will have something about him and while Aiden is a young player he is a young player on a mission," said Mulvey.
Central Coast are 25/1 to win the 2019 Grand Final.
The Mariners are 23/10 to win their first game of the season against Brisbane, who are 1/1 with the draw 14/5.
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Midfielder Aiden O'Neill's ambition is to break into the Australia side while he's on a year-long loan with Central Coast Mariners.
The Brisbane-born player has joined Mike Mulvey's side from Burnley, for whom he's played four games over the past two years.
O'Neill played twice for Australia at U-23 level last year, but feels he'll improve his chances of a senior call-up if he does well in the A-League.
He said he had been keen to move to the Mariners when he found out Mulvey was interested in him, and is looking forward to pre-season.
A long-term goal of mine is also to break into the Socceroos squad.
Aidan O'Neill
"I'm coming on loan and I want to earn experience. I want to be involved and help the team push forward, if that helps me when it comes to Burnley then great but at the end of the day I am here to help the Mariners win games," added the 20-year-old.
"A long-term goal of mine is also to break into the Socceroos squad."
O'Neill moved to England in 2012 after playing youth football for Brisbane Athletic. He signed his first professional contract with Burnley in 2016 and made his senior debut as a substitute against Liverpool in a league cup tie.
He had a 15-game loan stint with Oldham Athletic last year, then moved to Fleetwood Town on a similar arrangement for the 2017/18 season.
Mulvey, who won the A-League championship with Brisbane Roar in 2013/14, is hoping bringing in a player with top-level experience can help the Mariners challenge for the Finals Series.
The Gosford club finished bottom of the table last season, dropping below Wellington Phoenix on the last day of the campaign.
"Any player who trains regularly with an EPL club will have something about him and while Aiden is a young player he is a young player on a mission," said Mulvey.
Central Coast are 25/1 to win the 2019 Grand Final.
The Mariners are 23/10 to win their first game of the season against Brisbane, who are 1/1 with the draw 14/5.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com