RISING Manly United star Justin Hayward has landed a dream short-term move to Sydney FC as an injury replacement player for the remainder of the National Youth League.
The strapping striker, who rose to prominence in Manly United’s annual clash with Sydney FC at Cromer Park midway through last year, has been drafted into Sydney FC youth team coach Steve O’Connor’s squad and marked his debut with a wonderfully taken goal in a recent 2-1 victory over Brisbane Roar in Brisbane. He kept his place in the starting XI for last Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Perth Glory in Sydney and looks set to play a major role in the club’s push for a finals berth over the closing rounds of the league season.
Hayward was plying his trade for Manly United’s under-18 side last season before making a few appearances for the club’s under-20 side. First grade coach Phil Moss then literally plucked him from the pizza café at Cromer Park to make a late appearance as a substitute against Sydney FC on a bitterly cold and wet night and he certainly left his mark – a crunching tackle on Sydney FC custodian Clint Bolton while contesting a lose ball will forever live in the memory of the Cromer Park faithful.
“We were down a few players late in the game and I noticed Justin floating around and had been impressed with his performances in the U18s and 20s so I asked him to get stripped,” Moss recalls. “We found him eating pizza in the clubhouse so it wasn’t exactly the ideal pre-match meal and preparation for him but he took his chance and it lead to further first team appearances last season.”
Hayward then spent the off-season training on with the Sydney FC youth squad and when the injury-hit first team affected numbers in the youth team, O’Connor put an SOS into Moss about the blonde speedster. Depending on the availability of Moss’ players, Hayward will see out the National Youth League season in a sky blue shirt before returning to his spiritual home at Cromer Park. “Justin is a local Manly junior to his core and I know he is champing at the bit to be a part of the Manly United first grade squad on a fulltime basis and push his claims for a starting spot,” Moss said. “But we are not a club to stand in the way of any players’ development and this was a fantastic opportunity for the kid and I’m delighted for him. “He is a very coachable player and he will no doubt learn a lot from ‘Rocky’ (Steve O’Connor) and return to us a better player for the experience. He will miss a fair bit of shape and structural work with us but I’m sure he will pick it up quickly when he returns. “I have an understanding with ‘Rocky’ that I can have him back as soon as we need him but I’m hoping to let him see out the season with Sydney FC – it will depend on injuries at Manly United.” Meanwhile, Manly United’s preparations for the 2010 NSW Premier League have been running relatively smoothly with long-term injury victims Craig Midgley (hamstring) and Robbie Cattanach (broken leg) nearing a full return to training. Both are expected to be back on deck during the early rounds of the competition. One set back has been the loss of midfielder Joey Schirripa, who suffered a fractured toe in a recent friendly against Edgeworth in Newcastle. “Initially we thought Joey required an operation and 3-4 months out but it has since settled down and he should be back to full training in the next couple of weeks,” Moss said. Manly United continue preparations this weekend with a hitout against fellow NSWPL outfit Sydney Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday night. Kick-off is at 7pm following the Grade 20s at 5pm. |
