MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australian Sammy Silvera, after facing injuries, COVID-19 challenges, and an unsuccessful stint in Portuguese football, has returned to Europe more experienced and confident. This comes after his team, the Central Coast Mariners, won the A-League championship. Despite Middlesborough’s current position at the bottom of England’s second division, Silvera has now been called up to Graham Arnold’s Australia squad, opening the door for his international debut. He hopes to play for the Socceroos in a friendly match against Gold Cup winners Mexico on Saturday in Dallas, Texas. The game is crucial as Arnold shapes his squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Silvera has already started in four of Middlesbrough’s five matches in the English Championship and counts Socceroos midfielder Riley McGree and goalkeeper Tom Glover as his teammates at the Yorkshire side.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Silvera expressed his satisfaction with his move to Middlesbrough, stating, “At the Mariners I found my love for football again and I really enjoyed being there. Coming to Middlesbrough was that same feeling, a positive environment ever since I’ve set foot in the door. Knowing Riley and Tom were going to be at the club was a massive help for sure. From day one, Riley knows the club inside and out pretty much so it just helps having that, it makes that transition a lot easier. With Tom, we’re both new, so we just bounce off each other and learn together.”
At 19, Silvera left Australia and went to Paços de Ferreira in Portugal’s top flight. Unfortunately, he faced injuries and was subsequently loaned out to lower division teams before returning home. After spending a year on loan at A-League side Newcastle Jets, he came back to the Central Coast Mariners, where he started his professional career as a teenager. Under the guidance of coach Nick Montgomery, the Mariners, despite having the cheapest roster in the A-League, won their second championship by defeating Melbourne City 6-1 in the ‘Grand Final’ match in June. Silvera praised Montgomery and his staff for revitalizing his career after his confidence was shattered in Portugal, saying, “The way they encouraged me on the pitch to just play and do what I love basically… He brought a young team together that got the biggest crowd to ever come to the stadium. It was fantastic to be a part of.”
Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford
Credit: The Star : Sport Feed
