New Zealand goalkeeper Jacob Gleeson has been offered all-expenses
paid trials at glamour English premier league clubs Manchester
United and Everton after impressing at last months FIFA U-17 mens
World Cup in South Korea.
The 17-year-old Wellingtonian will trial at Everton from October 28
until November 4 before spending a dream week chasing a youth squad
position at Manchester United.
Im definitely looking forward to it, the understated Newlands
College sixth former said.
Its what all youth footballers aspire to, a professional
contract. But the way Im approaching it, Im just going over there
to do my best and gain experience
if anything else comes of it,
its a bonus.
The attention on the Western Suburbs stopper is another positive to
come from New Zealands eye-opening World Cup where they were
beaten by Brazil 7-0, England 5-0 and North Korea 1-0.
Gleeson, whose shot-stopping agility belies his growing 193cm
frame, played in the first two matches and produced several
stunning saves to deny the rampant Brazilians a double-figure
score-line.
After the Brazil game my dad [Pat] was approached by a scout and
it just went from there. Four days after the World Cup he
approached us again to see if we were still interested and he
arranged all the details
its pretty cool, Gleeson said.
New Zealand Football Chief Executive Graham Seatter said the
interest in Gleeson alone went a long way towards vindicating the
investment in the U-17 programme.
While results are always important and what well be judged on
externally, well ultimately judge the success or otherwise of
these age-group World Cups on the numbers of players that graduate
to the senior national teams and into the professional ranks,
Seatter said.
These opportunities for Jake represent another big tick as far as
were concerned to go with Jack Pelter who is on the books at
Sunderland and has the chance to secure a long-term contract
following his goal at the U-20 World Cup in Canada.