Manchester United’s rising talent James Overy has received an unexpected call-up to the Australia squad for their upcoming matches against Venezuela and Colombia. Socceroos manager Tony Popovic has included 11 new faces in his selection, with United academy player Overy, who celebrates his 18th birthday this weekend, poised to continue his progression following his impressive displays at the under-20 World Cup.
Overy arrived at United during the summer of 2024 on a scholarship arrangement before signing professional terms in July. In May, Ruben Amorim brought him and several other youngsters into first-team training at Carrington prior to the Premier League clash with Chelsea.
Following his arrival at Old Trafford, Overy was sidelined for eight months through injury before making his under-18s bow in February. This campaign, he has become a consistent presence in Darren Fletcher’s side and has turned out for the under-21s in both Premier League 2 and the National League Cup.
Looking ahead to the forthcoming international window, Overy will now aim to take the next stride in his development after earning his place in the Australia squad. A spate of injuries to several established players has prompted Popovic to hand opportunities to numerous fresh faces.
“It’s another opportunity to expand the depth and introduce players who have not yet been exposed to the Socceroos environment or senior international football,” Popovic said. “We also welcome back some familiar faces, from Australia and abroad.
“I’ve had the chance to closely observe the opening rounds of the A-League season, and we believe this is the ideal time to integrate domestic players into the squad.
“We are delighted to be back in the United States to face strong South American opposition as we continue our preparations for the World Cup.”
Australia face Venezuela in Houston on November 14 before meeting Colombia in New York. The international fixtures represent one of the final opportunities for players to stake their claim ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The Socceroos have already booked their spot in the summer showpiece and will be targeting progress beyond the round of 16 for the first time, having fallen to Argentina in Qatar in 2022.
