Five players A-League clubs should watch at the AFC U-23 Championships

It is to be hoped that Australia stay in the AFC U23 Championships as long as possible and if so, the Socceroos will come up against some of the best and brightest young talents in the world’s biggest continent.

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The more games there are then the more chances for A-League to keep tabs on some of these future stars.  The World Game has five who should be worthy of consideration for even the most Asia-skeptic of coaches. 

Suphanat Mueanta  (Thailand)

There are a number of young stars that are exciting Thai fans and the youngest and perhaps the most exciting of all is Suphanat Mueanta. Just 17, he is the youngest ever goalscorer in the history of the AFC Champions League.  Mueanta has already played for the senior side, is a threat to any defence and has a nose for goal. Coach Akira Nishino has brought through plenty of youngsters over the years and is the perfect coach to help the Buriram man develop.

Would a 17 year-old Thai prospect with senior international experience under his belt consider a move to Australia? That is the big question. Coach Nishino has told his players - he is also the boss of the senior team -that they need more international experience and, apart from the exploits of Chanathip Songkrasin and Theerathon Bunmathan in Japan, it has yet to really happen. The next generation of Thai talent will be more cosmopolitan and Suphanat is going to be a significant part of that generation.

Aziz Ganiev (Uzbekistan)

It is a little surprising that this 21 year-old has not been on the radar of more clubs in Asia. There was talk of South Korean interest but it never quite happened.  This clever midfielder, who can control the tempo of the young White Wolves, was a virtual ever-present in 2018 when Uzbekistan won the title.

The progression has continued both domestically and in the AFC Champions League. Another fine tournament with even more mature displays should show the rest of Asia that the already experienced Ganiev has what it takes to shine all around the continent. The question is whether he wants to and whether he is ready in an off the pitch sense to make the move.  In terms of ability there can be no doubt 

Nguyen Tien Linh (Vietnam)

If Vietnam are to replicate their final success of 2018, or even go one better then the young Golden Stars will need the 22 year-old striker to be at his best. The Binh Duong star has already made headlines for the senior side with a 30-year wonder strike that delivered a famous and vital win over United Arab Emirates in qualification for the 2022 World Cup late last year.

Such strikes have granted star status at home but Vietnamese players have yet to really find success overseas. Strong, confident and a love for scoring goals, Tien Linh has what it takes to shine at home and abroad and a move from the V-League to the A-League would be big news.

Yusuf Abdurisag  (Qatar)

It was during the 2018 edition of this tournament that the likes of Almoez Ali and Akram Afif showed Asia the quality that would lift the Asian Cup a year later. The 2022 World Cup hosts would love it if something similar happened this time around especially after a dismal showing with no goals and no points at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Abdurisag’s excellent movement means that he glides around the forward line, and his speed creates chances though the man who scored his first senior international goal for Qatar in October could do with improving his finishing skills.

Authorities in Qatar want nothing more than to see young stars move overseas and there’s nothing wrong with Australia especially as the salaries for local players in the Middle East are not always as high as many assume.

Abdallah Al-Fakhouri (Jordan)

There has been talk of late as to whether it is wise to have foreign goalkeepers in the A-League, after all, there are not that many clubs down under in which to gain experience. Perhaps it would be wise then for this 19 year-old to test himself outside Jordan sooner rather than later which should not be a problem for a number one that has already accomplished plenty so far in his career.

There are very high hopes in Jordan that the Al Wehdat player will become the long-term successor to the revered Amer Shafi. There are not many national teams in Asia that have already had a teenage number one between the sticks.

Mentally strong, agile, very tall and  very confident, Al-Fakhouri has all the tools to become one of the best goalkeepers in Asia for some time to come.Australia would help complete the education.