Goal.com

17/07/2012 4:35:00 PM

Bite-sized news for you to chew over - Ryan's Spurs excitement, Wanderers go Greek and much, much more

Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Mat Ryan is hopeful his trial at English Premier League club Tottenham can lead to a high-profile move.  The 20-year-old has been offered a week's trial at Spurs, whose youngest senior goalkeeper is Brazilian Heurelho Gomes at 31.  Ryan has been highly rated since making his debut in the 2010-11 season, winning the A-League's best goalkeeper award last campaign.  "Really, I've got nothing to lose. I'll give it my best shot and hopefully something will come out of it," Ryan told The Australian. "It is going to be hard work, but I am ready for it.  To be training alongside some of those players is going to be a huge experience and I am sure I'll get a lot out of it.  As for what is likely to happen, I don't know. The club has said they will look at me, and if they like what they see they are prepared to extend my stay."

The Western Sydney Wanderers are reportedly trialing Greek striker Giannis Simosis, who also possesses an Australian passport through parentage.  Four Four Two Australia claims the 21-year-old striker is on trial at the fledgling A-League club, with Wanderers coach Tony Popovic also casting his eye over former Gold Coast United duo Jerrad Tyson and Dylan Macallister last week.  Simosis' two-year spell with Panthrakikos ended after the 2011-12 season, featuring 10 times as the club won promotion to the Greek Super League.  He made 18 appearances for two goals in the previous campaign, having moved from Super League outfit Panionios after the 2009-10 season.

Newcastle Jets's trial match against an NBN State League select on Wednesday might come too soon for captain Jobe Wheelhouse, but the experienced midfielder has returned to full training.  The 27-year-old had foot surgery in May to remove a bursa, and had been on a modified program before this week.  But he is unlikely to feature against the State League XI, depending on how he recovers from training on Tuesday.  "We'll see how he pulls up today," assistant coach Craig Deans told the A-League's website.  "He might get a little run towards the end to ease him back in, but it would be about 20 minutes max, if anything."

Former Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets full-back Byun Sung-Hwan has returned to his homeland to sign with K-League club Seongnam Ilhwa.  The former South Korea international had three seasons in the A-League, scoring the deciding penalty to hand the Sky Blues the 2009-10 A-League title.  He spent two seasons at Sydney before joining the Jets for the 2011-12 campaign, in which he played 21 matches.  Seongnam announced the defender's arrival on their website on Monday, with coach Shin Tae expecting the experienced 32-year-old to be a "model" for the club's younger players.

Sydney FC has promoted Brian Dene as the club's National Youth League coach for season 2012-13.  Dene served as assistant under new head coach Ian Crook last campaign, and will now step into the Englishman's shoes.  Dene has spent time at both Parramatta Eagles FC and the New South Wales Institute of Sport, and will have Miro Vlastelica as his assistant this season.  "Education forms a big part of a footballer and I want to keep myself right on top of that," Dene - also director of football at Sydney's Newington College - said via club statement.  "Being in a school environment allows me to understand more easily what these young athletes go through and give up, and how they manage that."

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