Luongo shows star quality in big push

MASSIMO Luongo has been making waves all over the world — and tonight the Australian star sets his sights on making misery for Athletic.

The 22-year-old midfielder, a non-playing inclusion in last year’s World Cup squad for his homeland, missed four games for Swindon recently as a result of his involvement in the Asian Cup back home - before returning and starring in the Barnsley victory on Saturday.

His reward for a series of impressive displays was bagging the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award. Luongo netted a superb opening goal in Australia’s 2-1 final victory over South Korea in front of a 77,000 crowd in Sydney.

And while his Town manager Mark Cooper is not remotely shocked by the former Spurs prospect’s rise to international stardom, he is no doubt relieved that substantial interest from Turkey, Cardiff and Qatar came to nothing as the transfer window closed.

“The only surprise to me is that no Premier League club has come for him,” said Cooper in the Sydney Morning Herald. “If I was a Premier League manager I would buy him straight away.”

A £3.5million bid from Al-Ahli Dubai was accepted by Swindon before Luongo rejected the move.

Luongo lines up tonight for the club currently second in the league with defensive midfielder Yaser Kasim, who starred in Iraq’s run to the semi-finals of the Asian Cup.

Both men will play a key role if Swindon’s goal of promotion to play in the Championship for the first time in 15 years is to be achieved.