Source : the age
When Lucas Herrington missed the penalty that spelled the end of Australia’s World Cup dream in Dallas, he received a very public show of support from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who told him live on the US Fox Sports network to keep his head up.
“You stepping up there, you show a lot of courage. Not everybody will do that,” Ibrahimovic said, as debate raged around the world over whether Herrington, 18, was too raw to take a penalty in the Socceroos’ round of 32 clash against Egypt.
“My friend, you’re the best. Don’t listen to the rest. Herrington, if you want to reach out, I’m here.”
Turns out Herrington didn’t have to reach out. Zlatan did it first.
In an interview with former Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer for Stan Sport, the 18-year-old revealed that Ibrahimovic actually reached out to him, out of the blue, as he prepared for his big-money transfer to newly promoted Premier League side Hull City.
“Zlatan did call me. He called me a couple weeks ago … I wasn’t expecting it,” Herrington said.
“He asked how I was first, and I said, ‘Yeah, I’m good. How are you?’ He just said, ‘How are things going post-World Cup?’ and I told him … ‘I’m moving to Hull.’
“He said ‘Oh, great. It’s a great move, great opportunity,’ and he said he was proud of me and just to keep my head up.
“It was obviously a tough moment, but he said he’s had plenty of moments like that in his career, and just to keep going, keep working hard and make sure you have another one of those moments, and just be ready.”
With Ibrahimovic’s advice ringing in his ears, Herrington is making plans for when that next moment comes around.
It could have happened this week, when he made his starting debut for the Tigers in their Carabao Cup tie against Stoke City. When scores are level after 90 minutes in that tournament, there is no extra time; it goes straight to penalties, and so Herrington prepared accordingly in the lead-up.
Herrington was one of the best players on the pitch, getting more touches (108) and making more defensive contributions (nine) than anyone else – but the match finished 1-1, and in the end, he wasn’t needed in the shootout, which Hull won 5-4 to progress to the next round. But he got some reps in anyway.
“I’ve been practising,” he said.
“Obviously in the cup competition, we knew it could go to penalties, so the day before, I was practising … I stuck to my routine, kept it the same and I scored a couple, which was nice to see the back of the net ripple. I’ll be ready for the next one.”
As assured as he’s looked on the pitch, Herrington is still pinching himself at the fact that he has landed in the Premier League, just seven months after his last appearance for Brisbane Roar in the A-League.
His debut off the bench in Hull’s shock 2-0 win over Manchester United capped off a lifelong ambition, one he has ticked off earlier than he imagined.
“I was speaking to mum about it the other day. I was waking up at like 2am and not telling her because she’d always tell me to get sleep. I was always setting alarms at the craziest hours to watch the Premier League,” he said.
“So it’s a dream come true to be here. I definitely didn’t think it would happen this quick. Being here, being on the bench and just taking in the atmosphere against Man United was just a childhood dream. I felt like a kid again … and then when I came on, it was just super special to be in that environment playing against some of those players. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”
Herrington looks set for a trip back home next month – and in his home state of Queensland – for the Socceroos’ friendlies against Brazil, the team’s first matches since the World Cup.
The games will mark the start of coach Tony Popovic’s preparations for January’s Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, but it remains to be seen if Herrington will be involved. The tournament does not fall inside a FIFA window, which means Hull does not have to agree to release him.
“It’s sort of hard, because it’s not an international window,” Herrington said.
“It just depends on the scenario and the situation, but if I did go, obviously, [the intent would] be to win the tournament. I think the squad’s definitely good enough to win the Asian Cup.
“A lot of people have been saying it’s one of the most exciting squads we’ve had in a couple years, so to hopefully be involved in that, and be involved in the national team set-up over the next few years, is definitely something I’m looking forward to. The future of Australian football is very exciting.
Watch Mark Schwarzer’s full interview with Lucas Herrington on Stan Sport at 7.15pm AEST on Friday.
