James Overy: Australia call up Man Utd's 18-year-old full-back

He has yet to play any senior football, only joined Manchester United last summer and wasn't even born when Australia reached their first World Cup in 2006.

But 18-year-old right-back James Overy, who played for United's Under-18s against Leeds on Saturday, could be heading to next summer's finals after being called up to the Socceroos squad for friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia in the United States.

Former Perth Glory teenager Overy moved to Devon from Australia in 2023, playing for Newton Abbot Spurs' first team in the South West Peninsula League before being signed by United's academy a year later.

A significant Achilles tendon injury stalled Overy's progress but his talent has been evident in United colours at both Under-18 and Under-21 level, featuring against senior opposition in National League Cup ties at Tamworth and Rochdale.

Overy is a quick right-back, can cover central defenders well and press forward. Yet his call-up presumably owes everything to his performances for his country at last month's Under-20 World Cup in Chile, even though Australia failed to make it out of the group stage.

"He's worth having a look at," said Australia boss Tony Popovic of the youngster who has not been in a matchday squad for the United senior team.

"I'm open minded about what that looks like for the immediate future and long term.

"Watching him closely in Chile, I was impressed.

"We have good contacts at Manchester United, so we know what he's doing at training.

"He's in the process where he's getting called up (to first-team training) a lot more often."

Overy is among seven uncapped players in the Australia squad as Popovic looks to build depth before next summer's World Cup, which is the seventh in succession that they have qualified for.

The defender is also eligible to play for Scotland and has represented them at Under-19 level.

Weirdly, Overy could join fellow full-back Diego Leon (Paraguay) and wide-man James Scanlon (Gibraltar) in making his senior international bow before he has played a first team game for Manchester United.

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