MELBOURNE: Whether timing is a heaven-sent gift or an instinct honed through years of repetition, Australia’s Andrew Nabbout has shown himself blessed with the quality as a goal-scoring winger.
His most inspired piece of timing, however, may be breaking into the Socceroos squad only months before the World Cup, having never really been part of the selection conversation.
Nabbout made the first cut from Bert Van Marwijk’s squad on Tuesday and is being backed to survive the final trim to 23 after a training camp in Turkey.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed a thrilling few months, from helping A-League side Newcastle return to the playoffs for the first time in eight years to sealing a lucrative move to Japanese powerhouse Urawa.
Getting the surprise call-up to Van Marwijk’s first squad in March was the icing on the cake, especially after being ignored throughout Ange Postecoglou’s four years in charge.
“Looking back at it now, it has been a bit of a whirlwind,” Nabbout said in an interview on Wednesday.
“When you look at everything in general, a lot has happened over the last few months.
“It’s all falling into place but that’s not happened because of luck or anything else. That’s pure hard work.”
It is tempting to think that inspiration may also have played a part, as in February Nabbout scored a goal for the ages in an A-League match against the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Bursting into the box at full speed, the stocky winger unleashed a stunning outside-of-the-foot strike that curled into the right corner, earning ESPN’s worldwide goal of the week.
Two weeks later, Nabbout was in the Socceroos squad and won his first caps against Norway and Colombia soon after. — Reuters
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