Words: Staff Writers
Image: Steve Gibson Photography/Brisbane Roar FC

Brisbane Roar Youth teenager Nick D’Agostino has been selected in the Young Socceroos squad to contest next week’s AFC Under-19 Championship qualifiers in Laos.

The 17-year-old’s selection in the Australian squad helps ease the disappointment earlier this week of missing out on the final Joeys (Under 17) squad to contest the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile next month.

The selection adds to an impressive year for D’Agostino, who delivered seven goals in nine appearances for Young Roar in this year’s PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland.

D’Agostino, who is a product of the Queensland Academy of Sport and was a junior at Gold Coast community club Runaway Bay, said he was looking forward to the challenge.

“It was disappointing not to be selected for the World Cup. Everyone wants to go to a World Cup at such a young age to get the experience,” D’Agostino said.

“But I’ve still got the chance to play international football for an older age group which is a real positive.

“Hopefully I can bang in a few goals in Laos and help my country qualify,” he concluded.

The Young Socceroos squad will be coached by Paul Okon and includes four interstate PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues players.

Okon said he is confident the squad can qualify for the AFC U-19 Championship to be hosted in Bahrain next year.

Australia’s qualification group includes Japan, Philippines and Laos.

“This is the start of this group’s World Cup journey. It will be a difficult challenge, especially with Japan in our group,” Okon said.

“We have had a number of camps and training matches together and the boys know the type of football we want to play.

“The challenge now is to perform under tournament conditions,” he concluded.

The Young Socceroos squad is: Daniel ALESSI (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), Adam BERRY (Central Coast Mariners), Nicholas D'AGOSTINO (Brisbane Roar FC), Caio DE GODOY (Emerging Jets Squad), Thomas DENG (Melbourne Victory), Cameron DEVLIN (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), Patrick FLOTTMAN (Blacktown City), Alusine FOFANAH (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), Alex GERSBACH (Sydney FC), Thomas GLOVER (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Jordan HOLMES (AFC Bournemouth, England), Steve KUZMANOVSKI (Melbourne City FC), Daniel MARGUSH (Adelaide United), George MELLS (Adelaide United), William MUTCH (Blacktown Spartans), Connor O'TOOLE (Seiritsu Gakuen Tokyo, Japan), Dejan PANDUREVIC (Manly United FC), Lachlan ROBERTS (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), Liam ROSE (Central Coast Mariners), Mario SHABOW (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), George TIMOTHEOU (Blacktown City), Brandon WILSON (Burnley FC, England), Liam YOULLEY (Western Sydney Wanderers FC).