Luke DeVere hoping his A-League returns leads back to the Socceroos

Luke DeVere returns to the A-League with the intention of breaking into the Socceroos. Source: News Corp Australia

LUKE DeVere, the forgotten man of Australian football’s defensive stocks, hopes his return to the A-League can kickstart his bid for Socceroo honours.

As reported by The Courier-Mail on Saturday, DeVere has returned to Brisbane Roar four years after leaving them to join South Korean outfit Gyeongnam FC.

During his time away, DeVere was called into the national squad on a couple of occasions in 2011 by then Socceroos coach Holger Osieck but failed to make it on to the park.

Luke DeVere faces Sydney FC in his first stint with the Roar. Source: News Limited

A serious knee injury midway through his time in South Korea didn’t help his selection cause for club and country, and he is now well down in Australia’s central-defensive pecking order.

“I’d started to get in the squad and some opportunities were probably going to come, but an injury put me out for a little bit and timing couldn’t have been worse,” DeVere said.

Not that the 25-year-old feels hard done by not being part of national coach Ange Postecoglou’s current setup.

Having been on the selection periphery for far too long for his own liking at Gyeongnam, DeVere said he did not deserve to be in the Socceroos squad that has reached the Asian Cup semi-finals.

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“In the first couple of years over there when I was doing well and having success, the (national squad) opportunities were coming and I think that was warranted,” he said.

“(But) the last couple of years have gone differently so it’s completely justified in terms of me not getting that chance or attention.

“I’m a big believer in players having to earn things and in the past year and half or so, I haven’t done enough to earn it.”

DeVere with fellow Queensland Socceroos hopefuls in 2011. Source: News Limited

DeVere plans to change that during the remainder of the Roar’s 2014-15 campaign, which includes the AFC Champions League.

“You only need to look at the last year or so, players that are doing well have been given a chance with the Socceroos,” he said.

“Age has shown that he’s not afraid to put players in. It’s an exciting time for all players that are playing and looking to have a go and getting in the team.

“All players want to represent their country if they get an opportunity. I’m no different. I’m ambitious and I’m still young enough to offer something.

“But in the short term it’s about me helping Brisbane and what’ll happen in the future will come from me getting stuck in and doing well for the Roar.”

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