FIFA under-20 World Cup: Australia coach Trevor Morgan says James Overy is committed to green and gold

Young Socceroos coach Trevor Morgan says Perth-born Manchester United youth prospect James Overy wants to play for Australia despite having turned out for Scotland at international level. Overy, 18, has slowly but surely risen up the ranks at Old Trafford since penning a scholarship deal with the club in 2024, recently signing his first professional contract which ties him to the club for the long-term. Part of the Red Devils’ academy set-up, the one-time Perth Glory youth product trained with United’s first team for the first time in May, and according to Morgan has also taken part in first-team sessions as recently as this month. Overy has Scottish heritage through his mother and as recently as this year turned out for Scotland’s under-19’s team, sparking fears the WA born-and-raised full-back could be lost to Australia. But after Overy played for Australia’s under-20 side at the UEFA Friendship Cup in June and was named in their extended squad for the looming FIFA under-20 World Cup, Morgan has put those fears to bed. “James is an Aussie; he wants to play for us,” Morgan said. “His first year in Manchester was difficult because he got some injuries and there’s many players that we want to give a chance to in national team, but we only can ever take 23, and in this case 21. “There was a great opportunity (at the Friendship Cup) with Richie Garcia, who’s the assistant coach here, he took the team to that tournament. “There’s a couple of reasons why James is with us now: he stood out for the national team in that tournament and secondly, he’s playing in a position where his qualities are useful to this team. And certainly he’s a great kid, he’s got a great personality, and he’s fitting in with the boys very well.” Morgan said the “explosive, dynamic” Overy was performing at a high level in training ahead of the Young Socceroos’ World Cup campaign in Chile, which begins against Italy on Monday. “He’s quite clever, he’s got a range of pass, likes to take people on and the way they coach at Manchester United, he’s doing certain movements or taking up positions and options that very easily fit into this squad,” he said. “His daily training environment is a very high level; whether it’s the coaching, the young players he’s with — or for example, last week he trained with the first team during and off the back end of the international break, so he was in and around first team players before he came into camp. “At the moment, if he plays to the level we see, he’s a bit advanced of other boys his own age in terms of the exposure he gets, but he’s still here to learn.” The eyes of the soccer scouting world will be on the marquee under-age tournament in Chile, looking to find the stars of tomorrow. Previous Golden Ball winners for player of the tournament include Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba and Sergio Aguero. Would a strong showing by Overy at the tournament see United coach Ruben Amorim throw him into the fray at English Premier League level? “I guess Ruben has to answer that question. But you can’t do yourself harm by playing well at your own age group at a World Cup,” Morgan said. “There’s players missing, (Barcelona star) Lamine Yamal’s not going to be here, but there’s still going to be some very high level talent of his age group and two years older than him. “If he can show who he is, it’s going to certainly mean when he goes back to his club, they’re looking to give him opportunities, because they want to help his pathway be an upward trajectory.”