Melbourne City midfielder Luke Brattan hopes to have another crack at playing football abroad next season but first he is targeting the A-League championship.
The 27-year-old was signed by Manchester City in October 2015 after securing his release from Brisbane Roar due to unpaid superannuation and was immediately loaned to Bolton Wanderers but failed to play a single game for the Championship club.
Brattan returns early to Man City
City Football Group decided to loan Brattan to their Australian club this season - something that had been expected from the moment he signed with Manchester City - but the defensive midfielder insists he still has ambitions to succeed abroad.
"Options are open [for 2017-18]," Brattan told reporters on Wednesday.
"There's no shying away I want to play overseas. I didn't have a great year overseas last year."
The Hull-born midfielder added: "I've got no idea at the moment. I could be anywhere next year but at the moment I'm here. I want to win another championship. I want to do big things with this club… I'm desperate for another championship, so hopefully we can do that this year."
Brattan had his iconic long hair cut off in front of Melbourne's AAMI Park on Wednesday as part of the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave.
Having won three A-League championships and two premierships with Brisbane and the 2016 FFA Cup with City, Brattan's focus is on helping the Bundoora-based club into a position to challenge for 'The Toilet Seat' in May.
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Heading into the second week of the A-League's split Round 23, City are third in the table on 33 points.
City lead fourth-placed Roar on goal difference, while Perth Glory - who are fifth- are on 32 points but have played one more game than their rivals for third.
City's Fernando Brandan out for the season
Finishing third would give City hosting rights in the first week of the A-League finals, a likely semi-final against archrivals Melbourne Victory and potential AFC Champions League qualification for 2018.
City will look to take another step towards a third-place finish when they host Newcastle Jets on Saturday.
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