Man Utd youmgster James Overy has been called up to Australia's national team for the international break.
James Overy has been called up to Australia's squad.(Image: 2025 FIFA)
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Manchester United youngster James Overy could represent Australia at the World Cup next summer.
Overy has participated in several first-team training sessions at Carrington. Last week, he was rewarded with a first call-up to Australia's senior national team for the November international break.
The youngster celebrated his 18th birthday last weekend, but he is considered a high-potential talent and United beat other Premier League clubs to his signature in the summer of 2024.
Shortly after signing for United, Overy picked up an injury and spent eight months on the sidelines, but he returned to action in February and has continued to progress this season.
Although Overy has only made a handful of appearances for United's Under-21s, Australia's manager Tony Popovic believes the youngster has a chance of making the Socceroos’ World Cup squad next year.
Popovic discussed Overy at a press conference and said: “If they’re in the squad now they’re a chance for the World Cup.
“Yes, there are some players that obviously can be more long-term prospects, can be prospects for after the World Cup, maybe the Asian Cup, certainly the next cycle.
"But it doesn’t rule them out of this World Cup coming up. And James is one of those. I watched him at the Under-20 World Cup. [Assistant coach] Paul Okon is very well aware of all the young players, having worked closely with those age groups, with the national team.
"So I knew what he could do. Watching him closely in Chile, I was impressed. In particular, coming in, playing the second match, and starting on the left – the youngest player there, starting at left-back.
“He showed a lot of composure, a lot of maturity for his age and then he went to the right in the third game. And then we started really monitoring him. We have good contacts at Man United so we know what he’s doing at training. We know how much he trains, how much he trains with the first team.
"He’s getting games at the Under 18s, the U21s. And I just thought he’s worth having a look at. And let’s see, I’m very open-minded with what that looks like for the immediate future and obviously long-term.”
Overy, who is eligible to play for Australia, Scotland and England, departed Australian side Perth Glory in the summer of 2023, and his family relocated to Devon before he moved to Manchester.
The right-back was subject to Premier League interest since catching the eye playing for Perth Glory's senior side in a pre-season friendly against West Ham when he was aged just 15.
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