Neil Kilkenny

Nicky Butt on Birmingham teammate and emerging Australian national team prospect, twenty year-old Neil Kilkenny:

"Neil could go on to be a top player as he has got all the necessary attributes," Butt said.

"Maybe he might have to do a little bit more of the other side of football. The nasty bits that no one likes to do. But he's a top-class footballer, who is technically gifted and a hard trainer who is prepared to listen to the coaches and all the other players.

"As long as he keeps his feet on the ground and digs a bit on the other side of the game, he will be a top, top player."

It's a pity he doesn't play in defence. Graham Arnold has compiled a visual dossier on the young central midfielder in order for Guus Hiddink to decide if it is in the best interests of the national team to select Kilkenny in the 2006 World Cup squad.

It seems that we can add Kilkenny to the list of potential young bolters for World Cup selection, which already includes the likes of Joshua Kennedy, David Carney and Brett Holman. Given the strength of our midfield, however, and the recent paucity of first team appearances for Kilkenny, his prospects appear slim. In the long-term, he would be a very welcome addition to the squad. Let's get him into the U-23 Olympic team set-up already!

Update (Apr-12): Long-term Socceroo supporters have got to love discoveries like Kilkenny. Stan Lazaridis, another Birmingham teammate but obviously one closer to home, has chimed in with further praise:

He's not the biggest player, but he's a real footballer. He likes to attack, he's got a good strike on him. He's a lot like Bresh (Marco Bresciano), although he's still got a way to go. He can be a big part of the next generation, definitely. I mean he wants to play for Australia, so what have we got to lose? If you're his age, and you're holding your own in the premiership, then obviously you've got to have something.