Carl Veart was full of praise for Adelaide United’s latest signing, goalkeeper James Delianov, after penning a two-year contract with the Club on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old is a talented prospect who has represented Australia both with the Joeys and Young Socceroos.
Veart revealed he had previously worked with the gloveman while with the national team and spoke highly of the former Western United and Melbourne City man.
He believed if Delianov continues to work hard and realises his potential he has the ability to become a Socceroo.
“I worked with James (Delianov) with the Young Socceroos two years ago,” Veart told AUFC Media.
“He’s a quality young goalkeeper and I think he’s down sort of the same path as a young Mat Ryan, he just needs game time in the A-League.
“And if he’s given that game time and given the opportunity to develop there’s possibly a future Socceroos goalkeeper there.”
Delianov’s addition completes the Reds’ goalkeeping stocks for the 2020/21 campaign and is the second shot-stopper to sign with the Club during the off-season following Joe Gauci’s arrival last month.
Veart said he was excited to see Delianov, Gauci and Dakota Ochsenham compete for the starting job ahead of the new season.
“We’ve got three young goalkeepers that will all be pushing each other for that number one spot,” he said.
“Young goalkeepers don’t normally get those opportunities to play in the A-League, you normally always get older goalkeepers.
“But we’re quite prepared to invest that time and invest those games into those young players because we can see the upside in all of those three goalkeepers.
“And that’s where we’re as a Club, we want to provide those opportunities for young players and help them with their careers.
“Because we can see, as I said, James, I can see as being a future Socceroos goalkeeper, so it’s important for him to come here, work hard and develop.”
