Eight years ago, it seemed almost a formality that Kofi Danning would become the first Ghanaian to break into the Australian national team. After turning out for the youth ranks of Canberra FC, the Australian Institute of Sport, Connor Knights and Sydney FC, and then recording two goals in his first four senior starts for the latter, the future looked bright for the Kumasi-born winger.

His performances saw him called up for the Australian U-20 sides where he made a total of 30 appearances. In 2011, he also featured at U-23 level. He also represented his adopted nation as part of the Australia Olympic football team in a qualifying match against Iraq.

Injury blow

He was handed two-year contract at club level and went on to make 22 appearances for The Sky Blues before a cruciate ligament injury followed by a change of coach prompted a move to Brisbane Roar. He struggled to get back to full fitness and was sent on loan to C.S. Visé (Brisbane’s sister club) in Belgium before undergoing two rounds of surgery to reconstruct his knee. He was sent back to his parent club during his rehabilitation period before being released at the end of his contract. The road to recovery has been steady, with short spells at National Premier Leagues Victoria side, Oakleigh Cannons FC and Hume City FC before arriving at Capital Football side Canberra FC in 2017 where he has reinvented himself as an attacking midfielder scoring nine goals in a 19 match spell between 2017 and 2018.

Unfulfilled potential

The question now is whether he can force a move back to the top level and become the first Ghanaian player to break into the Australian national team and help lift their odds of success in the future. As an indication of how far behind they are, they're around 400/1 to win the 2018 World Cup. At the age of 27, time is not on his side and very few players of African descent have made it into the Socceroos' fold. In fact, in the last 10 years, only Bruce Djite, Jason Geria and Bernie Ibini have achieved that feat.

It was once believed that the current generation of talented young players of African origin would help to propel Australia to the next level, but none of the players who will take to the field in this summer’s World Cup have emerged from that group. Despite that, the writers at www.aussiefreebet.com.au are convinced the Socceroos have a fighting chance of reaching the knockout stages. They line up in Group C alongside France, Denmark and Peru.

Danning scored the winner against the Riverina Rhinos two weeks ago.

Last chance saloon

At one point, he was a household name in Aussie soccer, but the game has a habit of forgetting about those who fall on hard times and Danning is no exception. He had an unsuccessful trial with the Newcastle Jets in 2015 but is still hopeful of a return to the A-League or even to Europe. And after a stunning start to the 2018 campaign, he must have at least put himself back on the radar. If he can keep himself fit, look after his body and continue to be a major influence on games, who knows where the talismanic youngster could end up. But it does feel like 2018 is a make or break year for the midfielder.