Sydney FC coach Ante Juric says Amelia Cassar will be integral to their fortunes this season.
Comparing Cassar to the Matildas star, Juric said the teenager impressed him more than any other player during Sydney's pre-season.
It comes after Cassar made just four appearances for the Western Sydney Wanderers last season, with the longest being an 80-minute stint.
"I don't like answering those things because they all impress me, but I will. The only reason is she's going to be a big superstar," Juric said of his young recruit.
"I tried to get her last year when she went to the Wanderers. She didn't play any minutes there, so I went and tried to get her again.
"She's a superstar in the likes of (Kyra) Cooney-Cross and (Caitlin) Foord.
"She's a really impressive player. She's going to be important for us, and if I'm right she's going to have a quick trajectory."
Juric says his Sydney FC squad for this campaign is a "dream team", despite the Sky Blues losing captain Princess Ibini, ALW winner Shea Connors and former Matilda Kyah Simon in the off-season.
Juric is also fixed on making the grand final again, and said it would be an "excellent idea" if the A-League decided to do a joint grand final event where the women and men play on the same day, similar to the NRL.
"I watched the league the other day and they had the NSW team against the Queensland team as well," he said.
"You could get 30,000 to 40,000, depending on where you play.
"From the girls' standpoint, I'd be happy with it."
Sydney FC, the five-time champions, are coming off a frustrating 2024-25 season when they missed finals for the first time in the competition's 17-year history.
The Sky Blues will be looking to take the crown off Central Coast and begin their campaign with a home clash against last season's premiers Melbourne City on Saturday November 1.
16°C