Perth Glory has granted permission for young striker Nikita Rukavytsya to attend a trial with Dutch first division side FC Twente next week. Rukavytsya will play for Perth against Melbourne this Sunday in the club’s final home match of the season before departing the following day.
Perth Glory has granted permission for young striker Nikita Rukavytsya to attend a trial with Dutch first division side FC Twente next week. Rukavytsya will play for Perth against Melbourne this Sunday in the club-s final home match of the season before departing the following day.
The 21 year old has attracted plenty of attention both locally and abroad following another successful season in front of goal and has been invited to spend the week under the watchful eye of former England manager Steve McLaren who has lifted FC Twente to third in the Eredivisie.
“Nikita is an outstanding young player who has continued to develop his skills in the positive learning environment we-ve established here in Perth,” said Glory Chief Executive Scott Gooch.
“We have a number of outstanding young players at the club and it is inevitable that with consistently good performances for us they-ll attract attention from overseas.
“We are not a club that will stand in the way of the best young talent realising their football dreams, however Nikita is a contracted player and we will always take into account the impact on the club and our stakeholders,” said Mr Gooch.
It is Rukavytsya-s second European trial following a week with German Bundesliga side Hannover 96 in April last year.
He has continued to blossom on the football pitch and played a key role in the Olyroos Beijing Olympic Games campaign before turning his focus to the 2008/09 Hyundai A-League with Perth where he has plundered eight goals.
“I-ve dreamt of playing in the big leagues in Europe and this is another great opportunity for me to realise that dream,” Rukavytsya said.
“I-ll just go over and do my best but my first focus is the game on Sunday and hopefully scoring a few more goals against Melbourne.”
Rukavytsya is Perth-s Under 23 marquee player and earlier this season re-signed with the club until the end of the 2009/10 season.
Due to the travel times between Australia and Holland, Rukavytsya is expected to miss Glory-s round 20 away match against Newcastle on Sunday 18 January.
