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Middlesbrough striker Scott McDonald handed second chance with Australia
Diminutive forward will be desperate to net first international goal...
24 Aug 2010 11:00:00
By Chris Paraskevas
Middlesbrough striker Scott McDonald has been granted a second chance to break permanently into the Australian national team, after being called up to Holger Osieck's first Socceroos squad.
The diminutive goalscorer, who has a prolific record at club level, fell out of favour with previous national team boss Pim Verbeek. McDonald failed to score his first international goal under the Dutchman and missed out on a place at the 2010 World Cup.
While Osieck hasn't had the chance to see McDonald in action, he has spoken with "top-class coaches" who rate the 27-year-old.
"I contacted a lot of people in Europe who I respect a lot, top-class coaches who rate him pretty highly," Osieck told reporters.
"I think he deserves a chance and then I'll see how far he integrates into the team and how much of a valuabe asset he can be."
One of the crucial factors in the role McDonald will play during Osieck's reign will be the system used by the German manager.
McDonald was never able to flourish in Verbeek's 4-2-3-1 set-up, with Osieck outlining a rather more flexible approach that will depend on different scenarios presented in matches.
"I don't want to compare my style of play to what Pim had; I would never question any methods of coaching colleagues, they've definitely had their reasons for it and I have my reasons for my own game," Osieck said.
"If you go with a fixed system into a game, you might get stuck. But if you have the opportunity in a game to adapt to a situation and to vary, to change your style of play, then you are in a good position.
"For that, you need different types of players and that's a fact.
"As a coach I don't want to say permanently that I play with two strikers or one striker. It depends on the situation, on the players, on the form in that particular situation."
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The diminutive goalscorer, who has a prolific record at club level, fell out of favour with previous national team boss Pim Verbeek. McDonald failed to score his first international goal under the Dutchman and missed out on a place at the 2010 World Cup.
While Osieck hasn't had the chance to see McDonald in action, he has spoken with "top-class coaches" who rate the 27-year-old.
"I contacted a lot of people in Europe who I respect a lot, top-class coaches who rate him pretty highly," Osieck told reporters.
"I think he deserves a chance and then I'll see how far he integrates into the team and how much of a valuabe asset he can be."
One of the crucial factors in the role McDonald will play during Osieck's reign will be the system used by the German manager.
McDonald was never able to flourish in Verbeek's 4-2-3-1 set-up, with Osieck outlining a rather more flexible approach that will depend on different scenarios presented in matches.
"I don't want to compare my style of play to what Pim had; I would never question any methods of coaching colleagues, they've definitely had their reasons for it and I have my reasons for my own game," Osieck said.
"If you go with a fixed system into a game, you might get stuck. But if you have the opportunity in a game to adapt to a situation and to vary, to change your style of play, then you are in a good position.
"For that, you need different types of players and that's a fact.
"As a coach I don't want to say permanently that I play with two strikers or one striker. It depends on the situation, on the players, on the form in that particular situation."
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|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
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