From A Land Down Under

Since 1992, 48 Socceroos have appeared the in the Premier League and never have their stocks been thinner. It has been a lean season for our Aussie hopefuls in the Premier League, barely even cracking a sweat.

Currently there are only three players active in English football's highest league albeit sitting on the bench. It seems light years away from the success seen by former stars like Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill and Brett Emerton to name a few.

When they were firing on all cylinders, they were up there with the best in the competition. Kewell was named PFA Young Footballer of the Year back in the 1999-2000 season at Leeds United and soon earned a transfer to one of the biggest clubs in world football - Liverpool.

The talismanic Tim Cahill was a key cog in David Moyes' Everton with Mark Vidkua enjoying fruitful spells at both Middlesborough and Newcastle.

This season, Brad Smith has endured a tough time at AFC Bournemouth along with Adam Federici who has only featured a handful of times for them also. Mark Birighitti has yet to feature at all for Swansea. Mile Jedinak's transfer away from Selhurst Park before the season kicked off further dwindled the Socceroos stocks, dropping down to the Championship with Aston Villa.

Some other notables are Anthony Caceres, Luke Brattan and Aaron Mooy - all owed by Manchester City but farmed out to Melbourne City in the A-League. Mooy is the most likely of the trio to be given game time at the Etihad after his stellar performances at Huddersfield in the Championship.

Mark Birighitti // 26 // Goalkeeper // Swansea City

Birighitti surprisingly sealed a dream move to the Premier League outfit after a free transfer from Newcastle in Australia's A-League. Surprisingly so as he conceded 40 goals in just 26 games with the Novacastrians and finishing the season eighth out of only ten teams.

So why did Swansea move for the Australian shot-stopper? Birighitti's link is via his former technical boss at Varese - Gabriele Ambrosetti - who was, at the start of the season, an Assistant to Swansea's former Manager Francesco Guidolin.

Clearly Ambrosetti saw enough in the young Aussie to bring him to the Welsh club for crack at the big time. His patience will continue to be tested with a debut in the Premier League not likely on the horizon.

Birighitti has started five games for Swansea's U-21 side conceding five goals in the process. Lukasz Fabianski has well and truly nailed down the No.1 jersey with Birighitti battling Swedish-man Kristoffer Nordfeldt.

The Aussie's only two hopes for a move up the pecking order would be an injury to Fabianski or if Swansea were to face relegation this season, Fabianski may then seek to stay in the Premier League with a different club.

Adam Federici // 32 // Goalkeeper // AFC Bournemouth

The Aussie journeyman signed a new 3 year deal last season tying him to the club until the 2019 season. He has only managed two Premier League appearances this season when Artur Boruc was heading through a rough patch.

Federici spent seven solid years at Reading even appearing for them in the Premier League during the 2012-13 season. He's found it harder though to cement himself as the No. 1 for the Cherries since Boruc's arrival. A consistent performer, Federici has spent most of his career on the fringes of the Socceroos only adding sixteen appearances since his debut as a 25 year old.

Federici is still likely to have some good years ahead of him and the Aussie will be hoping for Boruc to call time on his career at season's end in order to receive more opportunities under Howe.

Brad Smith // 23 // Left-back // AFC Bournemouth

Smith burst onto the scene at Liverpool when Jurgen Klopp arrived after coming through their Academy. Noted as a free attacking left-back, Smith has a deadly left foot when crossing in from the wings.

A hefty transfer from Liverpool followed with Eddie Howe splashing $10M (including add-on) on the defender with somewhat egg on his face as Smith has barely been used in the League.

Smith's desire to push forward should have seen him slot into Eddie Howe's side nicely although he has found himself behind veteran Charlie Daniels. When Liverpool sold Smith to Bournemouth they did manage to insert a buy-back clause into his contract and Smith will be hoping they come back for him.

The Aussie has a big future if he is able to find regular football.

Others to keep an eye on...

English Premier League - Youth Squads

Nathan Baxter // 19 // Defender // Everton

Con Ouzounidis // 17 // Defender // Everton

Jacob Young // 17 // Defender // Sunderland

Jasmin Keranovic // 19 // Goalkeeper // West Bromwich Albion

Jake Brimmer // 19 // Midfielder // Liverpool

Tom Glover // 19 // Goalkeeper // Tottenham

Championship

Aaron Mooy // 26 // Midfielder // Huddersfield

Mile Jedinak // 33 // Midfielder // Aston Villa