Local boy Miles Milliner has been rewarded with another call-up to Australia’s U17s soccer team, the Joeys, for the Asian Cup.

The 15-year-old defender is the only player in the squad who is not contracted to an A-Leauge side or playing in Europe. Instead, Miles has been plying his trade for local NPL side Manly Eagles, where he has enjoyed impressive form with the U20s side. Before joining the NPL side, Miles came up through the local club Collaroy Cromer Strikers FC.

Speaking on his selection and trip to the cup in Saudi Arabia, Miles said, “[It’s] a good feeling. I think it shows you don’t have to be in a professional academy to get into these squads.”

Miles also played in Hattrick U17 International Tournament, saying of the experience, “I think it was a really good experience playing some high-level Asian countries there, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Oman. I had to work pretty hard to get into that starting team; I think a couple of good performances set me up really nicely there.”

Currently, the Joeys sit bottom of their group and will need a convincing win against tournament favourites Japan tomorrow night if they wish to have a chance of progressing.