Bendigo soccer product Mitchell Graham continues to progress through the ranks with A-League club Melbourne City FC.
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Graham, 17, has been selected in the Melbourne City senior squad to travel to India for matches against local power the Kerala Blasters and Spanish club Girona FC.
Graham signed with Melbourne City early in 2017 and impressed in the club’s youth ranks.
Graham toured China in August last year with Melbourne City’s youth squad where they played against academy teams from Asia and Europe, including Inter Milan.
The talented defender has impressed in Melbourne City’s NPL squad this year which earned him the call-up to the senior squad of 24 for the Indian tour.
The Melbourne City touring squad includes star striker Bruno Fornaroli and reigning club Player of the Year award winner Bart Schenkeveld.
Melbourne City FC head coach Warren Joyce said Graham and other young players in the squad aren’t just making the trip for training purposes.
“In the games over there they (younger players) will get an opportunity to show whether they’re capable of playing with the first squad (in the A-League season),’’ Joyce told melbournecityfc.com.au
Joyce said the Indian tour was a key part of the club’s pre-season schedule.
“It’s a challenging test travel wise to go over there, but you want to challenge the players and put them in harsh circumstances and see how they deal with it,’’ Joyce said.
“We have two good games while we’re there and everyone is looking forward to the games.”
Melbourne City plays Kerala Blasters on July 24 and Girona on July 27.
Melbourne City plays Brisbane Roar in the FFA Cup round of 32 on August 7, while the club starts the A-League regular season with a blockbuster clash with Melbourne Victory on October 20.
