Socceroo squad member Chris Ikonomidis has had a breakthrough week at his new Danish club, where he had yet to secure a regular place in the starting 11. But two starts in five days and two strong performances in winning matches may go a long way towards helping him cement a regular place in the Danish Super League club.
As well as playing 90 minutes in successive games, the 21-year-old winger netted his maiden goal for AGF in the first of these games, last Wednesday’s midweek cup match, a 3-1 win over third- tier club Holbaek. Ikonomidis also provided an assist for one of the other goals. His performance earned him a start in the following league match, five days later on Monday evening, against bottom of the table Esbjerg, which AGF won 6-2 thanks to a second-half five-goal spree.
Speaking to AGF-TV after scoring his maiden goal for the club in the cup match, Ikonomidis said: “I think now mentally I’m more free and hopefully … the goals [will] now start rolling in and that will really help the team and it will also help my performance.
“I’ve been training the last couple of weeks on my finishing with the coaches − doing extra work after training − so it [makes me] happy to finally see your work and see the rewards you get from it.”
It was a timely couple of performances for Ikonomidis ahead of Socceroo boss Ange Postecoglou finalising his squad for the World Cup qualifier away to Thailand in mid-November.
Ikonomidis has now played eight matches in all competitions since joining AGF on loan from Lazio in September. He has started in five of those matches.
The Sydney-born Ikonomidis played for Sutherland Sharks in Sydney before moving to Italy in 2013 as a 17-year-old to join Lazio’s youth team. He had to wait until being loaned out to Serie B club Salernitana before he made his senior debut in Italy. He made 14 senior appearances for Salernitana scoring a single goal.