Maturing North targets Europe

THE WORLD GAME

Abroad... North is desperate to make the move overseas (Getty Images)
With the endorsements of Socceroos captains - past and present - ringing in his ears, Jade North is gearing up to become the latest Australian to join the overseas exodus.
Singled out by Lucas Neill and Craig Moore as the national team's man of the moment after his commanding performance in the goalless draw against China in March, the Newcastle Jets skipper told TWG of his plans to broaden his horizons.
It is now - or never - for the centre-back who excelled alongside skipper Neill and Nurnberg's Michael Beauchamp in a three-man defence in Kunming.
Taree-born North, a talisman for indigenous kids looking to break into the game, turned 26 back in January and with a year to go on his Jets deal is growing impatient to prove himself on foreign fields.
West Ham's Neill and Queensland Roar's Moore both believe he's equipped to survive in Europe's shark pond - and so does his one-time Socceroos room-mate Tim Cahill.
Now North is beginning to share their belief.
''I think I need to go sooner rather than later,'' he said from Townsville where his is fine-tuning his fitness with the Olyroos for May 23's clash with Ghana in Sydney.
''It's good when your fellow players give you recognition - it gives you extra confidence. I've got passport issues in going overseas but the plan would be to maybe go somewhere like Belgium or Holland first and use that as a springboard.''
''The transfer window doesn't close until August and if I can do well for the Socceroos in the meantime, then who knows.''
''Now that I've cemented myself into the national team set-up maybe there's a club out there who will pay a transfer fee for me.''
''I want to test myself outside Australia and playing more matches for the Socceroos can only speed up the process.''
Until now, North was been typecast as little more than a stop-gap option during his 17 cap Socceroos career.
But he's been in all coach Pim Verbeek's squads and training camps and was one of just two A-League starters against China.
''I've always been knocking on the door but now that there have been a few retirements at the back I think things have opened up,'' he added.
''We have lots of great midfield players but at the back is where there are gaps that need to be filled.''
''This is my first real chance to get a crack at a regular starting slot and I'm aiming to take it.''
North dreams of becoming Australia's answer to Italian hard-man Fabio Cannavaro - the first defender to ever win FIFA's world player of the year award.
''Like me he's not that tall, he's somebody I'd love to try and emulate. He's the best defender I've ever seen. I admire his strength, aggression and the way he uses the ball.''
Despite yet another post-season Jets exodus - Mark Bridge, Stuart Musialik and Andrew Durante - North is convinced the champions will be competitive yet again.
But the former Brisbane Strikers, Sydney Olympic and Perth Glory man, who is just as comfortable at right-back, concedes it's been frustrating watching key players leave.
''It's a matter of re-grouping again,'' he said. ''We did it last season when we lost the likes of Nicky Carle, Paul Okon, Milton Rodriguez and Vaughan Coveny. We seem to manage to keep doing, and we will again.”
''When you win a grand final, you want to build on teams but that hasn't been the case. Maybe we could have kept the team together but Newcastle takes a tough stance on certain players - and we just have to move on together.''
''We have great players for the future in Adam D'Apuzzo, James Holland and Tarek Elrich, so it's not all bad. Every year is a tough year at the Jets - and this will be no different.''

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Article Source: http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/maturing-north-targets-europe-111361