Robbie Fowler still loves Australian football: he tells us two Socceroos he tips to join Herrington in the EPL
It's been over six years since Robbie Fowler exited the A-League, but he remains an ardent advocate of Aussie talent, loudly lauding the likes of Lucas Herrington, Alex Robertson, Mohamed Toure, Riley McGree, and a plethora of other Antipodeans scattered across the globe. As a player with North Queensland Fury and Perth Glory who subsequently took the helm at Brisbane Roar, the Liverpool legend developed a deep affinity with both the A-League and Australia during his time Down Under.
And he's been following the exploits of the nation's exports, impressed by many - some of whom he had a hand in developing and nurturing. Among those under Fowler's forensic gaze is Hull's Herrington, the Socceroos defender who was a 13-year-old fledgling with Brisbane's academy during Fowler's 22-match, 14-month tenure from April 2019 to the end of June 2020.
Understandably, Fowler has little recollection of interacting with the youngster during those early formative years. But he is fully aware of him now.
"You know what, I really like the kid and the composure he shows at such a young age," Fowler told Football360. "He's already accomplished a lot…having done so well at the World Cup and now looking so at home in the Premier League.
Current Socceroos boss Tony Popovic greeting Robbie Fowler in the A-League. You look at him and you come to the conclusion the Socceroos are in good hands defensively looking to the future.
Fowler, dubbed God by the Kop and the scorer of 183 goals for Liverpool across two spells, knows all about being a prodigy, breaking through at Anfield at just 18. And there's another emerging Socceroo who has caught his eye - dynamic 23-year-old Cardiff City midfielder Robertson, absent from Australia's latest squad for personal reasons" but with the potential to be a fixture in the team for the next decade.
"I've watched a fair bit of Alex, even when he was at Portsmouth, and he's got a lot of aspects to his game I really like," added Fowler. "There's that song 'The Kids Are Alright' (by The Who) and Alex fits right into that category.
He had those loan spells when he was at Manchester City (to Ross County and then Pompey) and when I look at players like him, right there you see the future of Australian football. Middlesbrough and Socceroos midfielder Riley McGree.
He gets about the pitch really well, has really good technique, and plays with a lot of intelligence. I think he'll just continue to learn and improve because he's playing in a league (the Championship) where he can keep growing and refining his game."