Oar reflects on his brush with an idol

Australia winger Tommy Oar is aiming to use an encounter with Wayne Rooney and the rest of Manchester United's all-star cast as a springboard to a flying start for new club Ipswich Town.

Oar

Tommy Oar was on the scoresheet for Ipswich Town. (Getty) Source: Getty Images


Oar, who inked a two-year deal at Portman Road nearly four weeks ago, turned several heads with an impressive debut for the Tractor Boys in the 3-0 League cup loss to Louis Van Gaal's men at Old Trafford.

The 23 year-old is now pushing hard for a starting place when the Championship promotion chaser takes on Bristol City at Portman Road on Sunday (AEST). Oar will be looking for match sharpness after former club Utrecht froze him out last season, after he announced his intention to move on at season's end.

The Socceroos' flier also missed out on a pre-season as he waited for his club future to be resolved - but is now ready to make up for lost time.

Looking every bit at home amid illustrious company at football's Theatre of Dreams, Ipswich performed better than the scoreline suggested against the Red Devils.

"They had so much quality going forward, but we took it to them at times and on a different day maybe it would have been 1-1, Oar said

"After coming off the bench for Australia in recent games, I hadn't really played 90 minutes since March and it was good to get a full match."

"I now want to force my way into the starting line-up for the games against Bristol City and Blackburn before the next Socceroos camp (ahead of the 9 October duel against Jordan).

Lining up against one of his favourite players, England star Wayne Rooney, was an eye-opener for Oar, who said: "His movement and the quality of his touch were exceptional. He scored their opening goal, and was the player that stood out for me.

"From the beginning he was quiet but when he took an unbelievable first touch and shook off a defender to score, it was sheer quality and showed how clinical he can be."

Oar, who operates down the left for his country, -played wide right against Untied and is competing with wingers Ryan Fraser and Ainsley Maitland-Niles for match time at Ipswich,

"They have both been doing really well ... and it would be unrealistic of me to just arrive here and expect to waltz straight into the team.

"There are so many games here and no one can play every game. The boss (Mick McCarthy) has changed a few things and there are also a few Premier League players here on loan and there's a lot of competition for places."

After five years of playing in the more technical Eredivisie, Oar is relishing the challenge of a different and more direct approach in helter-skelter world of the Championship.

"Here it's more aggressive than Holland and the teams are stronger defensively although maybe not quite as measured in their approach," he said.

"In Holland you had time to turn and pick your pass, here it's more about knowing what's around you and you get closed down very quickly."


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3 min read

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By David Lewis


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