Aussie abroad James Demetriou revealed that he is in talks to return home to the A-League next season from his current club, Swansea City.
The striker has been unable to force his way into the Swans’ first-team squad and has been loaned out to non-league side Wealdstone FC for the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old, speaking exclusively to Outside90, has been subject to interest from several clubs – and conceded that while he would rather not return to his homeland just yet in favour of pursuing a career in England, his hand may be forced by the need for first-team football.
He said: “It’s hard to say where I’ll be next season, I’m not too sure.
“My agent and I have been speaking to a few league clubs and a few back in Australia, too.
“I don’t really want to head there but game time is the most important thing for me now,” he continued.
“I’ve lacked match fitness and it’s taken me a while to get here.
“With league clubs interested, hopefully I can bag a few goals and see where we stand by the end of the season.”
Had a great time with my beautiful family over the Christmas break. Time to say goodbye, until the summer 😥👋💕 pic.twitter.com/rDJjQry4Ho
— James Demetriou (@james_demetriou) January 12, 2015
The 20-year-old begun his fledgling career in Sydney Olympic’s youth team, from which he was plucked by Championship outfit Nottingham Forest in 2013.
In the summer of 2014, top-flight outfit Swansea signed him on a two-year contract and he is yet to make a first team appearance.
Wealdstone, who play in National League North – the sixth tier of English football – have restricted Demetriou to substitute appearances thus far but he got off the mark on Saturday, scoring from the bench in the win over Havant & Waterlooville.
Demetriou levelled the scores at 2-2, impacting the fixture after coming on as a 64th minute substitute, before team-mate Johnny Wright scored with just over five minutes to play in highly dramatic fashion.
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He said: “As with every club, you can’t go and expect to be straight into the team.
“When the opportunities come up, all I can do is keep finishing them and hope that’s enough for the gaffer to give me a starting place.
“I’m happy to be where I am fitness-wise and hopefully I get a chance in the next one.”
The loanee is qualified by parentage to play for Cyprus and has turned out for their Under-21 side in the past.
This does not mean the door is closed on a Socceroos call-up, with the striker quoted by Greek-Australian website Neos Kosmos as “dreaming” of playing for his country of birth.
Demetriou, who admits all he knew about his loan club when he joined was the infamous Wealdstone Raider, sees first-team football as an opportunity to force his name back into international contention.
GOAL @Wealdstone_FC 2-2 @HavantWvilleFC pic.twitter.com/NmUdAKPXyV
— Stones Goals Live (@StonesGoals) April 2, 2016
“Obviously, I’ve not been in the Cyprus squad for a long time because of the game time I’ve been lacking.
“It would definitely be a positive thing for me to get back into international football and that’s what I hoped to do when I came here, get games, get goals and set myself back up for the international football again.”
Demetriou’s side, who currently occupy 11th position face a tricky test at home to Hemel Hempstead Town on Monday night. Wealdstone can move to within a game of the top six with a win, with Demetriou undoubtedly raring to build on his recent goalscoring form.
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