Central Coast Mariners boss Nick Montgomery has admitted nothing would give him greater pride than seeing Jason Cummings make Australia’s World Cup squad. The on-form frontman has already been named in the Socceroos’ provisional list and is looking to make the final cut for Qatar next month.
It would cap some turnaround in fortunes for the Scot whose promising career had looked like it was starting to flag. A blistering start with Hibs and then a move to Nottingham Forest and a loan spell at Rangers, then saw him drop down to spells at Shrewsbury Town and Dundee.
Cummings’ reputation to have a good time has sometimes gone before him and led to many people to try to warn Montgomery off him. The Mariners boss, however, did his own background searches and found a whole different story and one he was prepared to gamble on.
Cummings didn’t disappoint as he hit an impressive 16 goals and that form saw him win an Australia call-up for the summer friendly with New Zealand, which he also scored in. He has now opened the new A-League season in style and Montgomery hopes Cummings can make the World Cup squad and more than silence the critics who have questioned and doubted him.
The Central Coast boss confirmed: “Jason is in the provisional squad - we received that confirmation last week. It is a great incentive for Jason. I take immense pride in what he has done out here. When I was looking to sign him a lot of people advised me not to sign him. People said it could be a bad mistake but when I spoke to people I know and trust in Scotland, including my good friend Grant Smith.
“He told me Jason was a top player and a really good guy who was maybe a little bit misunderstood. Since he has come out to Australia that has been the case. Jason has admitted he has made some poor life choices when he was younger. Most players have – you only have to look at Jack Grealish. Jack, like Jason, now has worked hard and everybody is now talking about his football.”
Australia boss Graham Arnold will finalise his squad over the coming weeks. Montgomery stated: “Jason scored on his debut for Australia and has certainly put his hand up for a World Cup place. The way he is playing I think he has a real chance of making the Australia squad.
“The coach, Graham Arnold, is watching all the A League games just now and will finalise his squad later this month. I have had a couple of conversations with Graham. “He is a big fan of Jason and likes his character. “He also brings something different to what he has because Jason is very creative and has a magical left foot and more often than not the ball ends up in the back of the net.
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“Jason has a lot of support from most of the Australian fans. “He is a popular player and character and it seems that everybody wants him to be at the World Cup. He scored a good few goals last season and has taken that form into the new season.”
Montgomery has also seen a real maturity in Cummings. He is no longer the same boy, famed for his ‘Cumdog’ antics, his Joker tattoo or the the infamous Open Goal evening that effectively ended his Dundee
“Jason probably has never found that place where he feels comfortable but I think he has now found that at Central Coast,” Montgomery, who came close to landing the Motherwell job lately, confirmed. It is down to the family lifestyle we have here.
“There are less things for him to get distracted from. It is an easy lifestyle where you train and play and in your down time you can go and relax on the beach or by the sea.
“Jason knows he has probably made some poor life choices in the United Kingdom. “That was the one thing I spoke to him about before he came across here. “I told him I wanted his football to do the talking and to cut out all the stupid stuff. “Jason has got his head down and worked hard. “He is still a funny guy who does silly things and gets people laughing but now he is doing it at the right times. “I think that is where he has really matured.”
Montgomery has already had interest in Cummings and knows it could become even more of a challenge to keep him if he makes that flight to Qatar with the Socceroos.
He confirmed: “We’ve definitely had a lot of interest in Jason. “Who knows how long we can hold on to him come January, especially if he goes to the World Cup and does well. He still has his best years ahead of him and everybody loves a goalscorer."
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