Kusini Yengi has had an incredible start to life at Fratton Park and his excellent performances haven’t gone unnoticed by the Australian national team.
The 24-year-old joined Portsmouth from Western Sydney Wanderers at the start of July and bagged on his debut to equalise for Pompey in stoppage time against Bristol Rovers on the opening day of the season.
Merely three days later, the Australian attacker followed this up with a brace in the EFL Cup as John Mousinho’s side knocked Forest Green Rovers out of the competition in a 3-1 win.
However, the goals didn’t stop there. On Saturday, during a 4-0 rout away at newly-promoted Leyton Orient, Yengi slotted home a penalty late on to score the fourth of the game.
Four goals in three matches so far is an impressive return and has put the Socceroos’ coaching staff on high alert.
Australian outlet FTBL are reporting that Australia head coach Graham Arnold has asked his assistant coach, former Manchester United number two Rene Meulensteen, to check Yengi out.
Meulensteen will also come over in the coming weeks to watch Manchester City loanee Alex Robertson who already debuted for the national side back in March against Ecuador.
South Sudan set to battle Australia
Australia are not the only national team keeping tabs on Yengi’s progress under Mousinho. The 6’2″ striker is eligible to play for South Sudan through his father, Ben.
FTBL are claiming that South Sudan have been offering Yengi a call-up ‘for some time’ but the ex-Adelaide United starlet feels ‘more connected’ to Australia.
Speaking in a recent interview, Yengi said [quotes via FBTL]:
“I always watched the Socceroos growing up and I feel proud to be Australian and believe we have a great national team.
“It’s a team that one day I hope to join and help to win things.”
Writer’s View
South Sudan will have to work wonders to convince Yengi to accept a call-up to the first-team over Australia but given his recent comments about the Socceroos and, more notably, his use of ‘we’ when referring to the national team, it seems that only one country will win this battle.
Yengi has had a dream start to life at Portsmouth and so it’s not a surprise that Arnold and Meulensteen are keeping a watchful eye over his performances.
Deputy Head of Writing
