Fri 13th Oct 2006

Adelaide United’s exciting youngsters Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite have been selected in the Australian Under 20 squad for the FIFA World Youth Cup qualifiers to be held in India later this month.

Both up and coming strikers, Burns and Djite have spent time together at the AIS and have both been part of the Young Socceroo squads that traveled to South America and Malaysia to play lead up games for these qualifiers.

Burns, one of Adelaide United’s under 20 signings, has started for Adelaide United in the last two rounds of the Hyundai A-League, scoring a goal in each game and showing at 18 years of age that he has an enormous future in front of him.

Djite is currently on his second short term contract with the club, coming in for the injured Fernando. The Washington born player scored three of the Young Socceroo’s five goals in the recent tour of South America.

“It’s an honour and I feel very privileged to be part of such an elite squad,” Djite said after the squad was announced by coach Ange Postecoglou.

After playing in the lead up games for the qualifiers, Burns is looking forward to the experience.

“It’s going to be a great experience because we’ve worked hard in the lead up games and now it comes down to the Asian Football Championships,” he said.

The Australian Under 20 squad will go into camp at the Australian Institute of Sport on Wednesday 25 October before traveling to India for the AFC Youth Championships which will be held from October 29 – November 12.

The team will be aiming to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Youth Cup in Canada.