Soccer

McBreen Happy With Glory Sea Change

Tuesday 2nd February 2010

Author: Riley Stuart

Photographer: Riley Stuart

Danny McBreen might be enjoying his late-season stint in WA, but he can’t stay for long. 

Since arriving from North Queensland just over two weeks ago on a flying loan deal, McBreen has stolen the show in Perth, playing a lead role in stabilising Glory’s season.

Four classy goals in as many matches has lifting the previously  faltering side to fourth place on the ladder, and all but secured Perth a maiden A-League finals berth.

‘Sometimes a change is as good as a holiday isn’t it.’ McBreen said on Tuesday morning.

‘Coming down here it’s a different team and a different set up.’

‘Especially at home we play nice attacking football, and for a striker you seem to get more chances.’

‘I think all that put together has worked out well for me to be getting the chances, and I’m putting them in the net.’

McBreen’s move typifies the European direction that the A-League is heading in.

In a bygone era in Australian soccer, loan deals were rare occurrences and players changing clubs mid-season was seldom seen.

But inPerth for just a few weeks, McBreen’s most recent efforts, a crucial brace against his side-to-be Central Coast at the weekend has shown many sceptics just how exciting such transfers can be.

His two goals inside the first 11 minutes against his future club killed off the Mariners finals chances and therefore, among other things, a place in the lucrative AFC Champions League.

But it was nothing personal, the striker insisted.

‘You can’t look at it like that,’ McBreen said.

‘I’m playing for Perth now, it’s not Central Coast this season, that’s next season.’

‘It doesn’t really matter who we’re playing, I was never going to take it easy against anyone.’

Amid the sighs of relief after Perth’s 3-1 victory on Sunday, coach Dave Mitchell suggested that McBreen could be destined for higher honours, perhaps even a Socceroos berth.

But the colourful 32-year-old was having none of it.

‘I’m just going out there and playing for Perth,’ McBreen said.

‘Obviously it’s great to be bandied about in talk about the Socceroos, but I don’t think about that stuff.’

‘I just play the game and whatever comes from it, comes from it.’

McBreen will play with the Glory until seasons end, before continuing his career with Central Coast Mariners ahead of their 2010/11 A-League campaign.