On January 26 every year, Australia celebrates as a nation for ‘Australia Day’.

Derby County fans can get into the spirit when Socceroo Mile Sterjovski finally pulls on a shirt for the Rams. 

Hopefully this romantic scenario of an Aussie debuting for the club on January 26th will actually take place. For that to happen more red tape has to be cut as it was on Wednesday when Mile was allowed to join the squad after weeks of speculation.

As an Australian I have hoped for a long time to have a Derby player from down under to cheer for. When Josip Skokos name was recently rumored to be reunited with Paul Jewell, I was in fits of excitement as Josip was born in my hometown of Mt Gambier, South Australia but unfortunately that came to nothing. My last chance to do cheer a fellow Aussie was when Jim Smith signed Con Blatsis but sadly that cheer was short and not very sweet. No offence to Con but his time at the club was far from successful and I have my fingers crossed Sterjovski will have a much more productive stay at the Rams.

I have never hidden my devotion for my national team and Sterjovski was always among my favorite players for the Socceroos, a player who makes probing runs when playing out wide as he did for Australia during the last world cup. He has also proved dangerous in front of goal bringing with him a handy goal scoring record as both a striker and midfielder.

The other thing I like about Mile’s game is he is very hard at the ball, willing to get involved in the play and work very hard to make things happen. There is no doubt that if he can bring these traits to Derby County he will be welcomed by supporters to the club.

He will not shirk a challenge and will dig deep when the team needs it. Although his time at Turkish club 'Genclerbirligi' seems not to have been his most productive, he is sure to recapture that form in more settled surroundings under a Manager who desperately wanted his signature.

His capture has made national news across all forms of media here and if he makes an impression in the team you can guarantee that it will only gain momentum. Aussies love to follow their countrymen overseas especially in the Premier League. The stature of Viduka, Kewell, Cahill and Neill is massive with sport stores stocking their respective team’s shirts simply because of fans interest in them rather than the club.

If Mile can make an impression you can be sure the media will be behind him and an increased profile for Derby down under can only follow. It will also increase his chances of a recall to the Socceroo team for upcoming world cup qualifiers, I for one know who  will be the next player I get emblazoned across my  Socceroos shirt!

For me Australia Day will include the traditional BBQ, a few beers with friends, listening to some classic Aussie rock and watching the test team battle India in cricket on TV. I hope that at the end of the day I will also get to celebrate an Australian running out in a Derby shirt once again. It is a day I have been waiting for and have no doubt he wont let me down.

Happy ‘Australia Day’ Mile….. C’mon Aussie C’mon!!

Photo: Action Images

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