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Derby Down Under: Kisnorbo The Go?
Derby Down Under: Kisnorbo The Go?
Friday, 17th Jul 2009 15:11 by Daniel J Sewart

Last weekend Derby County trialled Australian Patrick Kisnorbo and from all reports he was instrumental in the Rams victory over Burton Albion. The question for me now is if Nigel manages to sign him, will he finally be an Aussie at the Rams I can be proud of?

It is something I have always wanted, a fellow countryman to not only be playing for Derby but at the same time a success on the pitch. Tony Dorigo is as close as I have got to date and even he although was born in Australia only to end up playing for England.

Over the last two seasons Sterjovski and Zadkovich (where is he by the way?) from down under took on the challenge but unfortunately neither were able to make an impact for the first team. Before them you have to look back to Con Blatsis and there is little to look back on.... 'turn your back on' would perhaps be a more apt description.

I am definitely not going to get carried away with the news Kisnorbo impressed in a trial match as he is a player that although was regarded as having huge potential, has battled with various injuries over the last couple of seasons.

At 28 years of age Kisnorbo was a promising youngster and represented his country, playing for the Socceroos 14 times and looked set to secure a regular spot in the team until injuries put his international career on hold.

For those of you who know little about the player, the 28 year old was born in Melbourne and holds an Italian passport, which allowed him to bypass European Union restrictions and in July 2003 moved from Australia to play for Hearts in the SPL making a respectable 48 league appearances over two seasons.

Kisnorbo also played in the UEFA cup for the Scottish team and spent a total of 18 months there, playing a total of 64 competitive games, before his contract expired at the end of the 2004–05 season.

He followed Hearts manager Craig Levein to Leicester City in April 2005 where his initial appearances as a midfielder failed to impress but a move into defense paid better dividends. His partnership with then-teammate Paddy McCarthy was instrumental in helping Leicester avoid relegation.

It seemed that Kisnorbo was flourishing in 2006/07 as he strung together a run of brilliant displays and was continually linked to Premiership clubs including Fulham and Wigan. In that same season he earned the players' player of the season award and became a fan favorite as he was part of a foxes defense that were seen as one of the best in the division.

His career slowly slid downwards in 07/08 and 08/09 as injuries eventually kept him from much competitive action. Although returning to full fitness by the end of last season he found it hard to break back into a foxes team that were promotion bound.

He was released by the club at seasons end although wanting to stay on for their return to the Championship but instead found himself looking for a new club, first training with Crystal Palace until the interest from Derby opened another door.

Kisnorbo has proven in the past to be a capable and talented player but injury has dealt him severe blows when he seemed to be becoming the player he had always promised to be not only at club level but on the international stage.

This time around I will make no big statements or predict that he would be a great signing for the club. The fact I whole heartedly endorsed Mile Sterjovski, seemed to jinx his time at the club as he produced to produce the exact opposite of what he had produced elsewhere for club and country.

With the signing of Barker and a fit again Leacock he would definitely have stiff competition at the club, so Instead I wish Patrick all the best and hope that if signed by the Rams he can get his career back on track and finds the form that anyone who followed his career will know he is capable of.

Before I sign off... in other down under related action, Australia have had two Premiership teams on tour playing local A-League clubs in pre season friendly. Gold Coast United stunned Fulham with a 2-1 victory while Wolves managed a 1-0 victory over a Perth Glory team which included ex Derby players Andy Todd and Mile Sterjovski. Todd got through a full ninety minutes and looked fit while Mile who had only just joined the club for pre-season training played for a half and went close to leveling the game.

I just hope that Australia will produce a star for the Rams in the not to distant future rather than being a place players can see out their careers, even if a warm and profitable place at that.

It would be nice to achieve that at some stage soon rather than just having to settle with being the superior cricketing nation.

On that note I think I hear my TV calling me…!

Photo: Action Images



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