Football

Vince Grella has developed into one of Australia's key players in the transition period after this year's World Cup, coach Graham Arnold said Monday.

The tenacious Parma midfielder, playing in Italy's Serie A, has become one of the first players picked and his influence was evident in Australia's 1-1 draw with Paraguay in Brisbane last Saturday.

With the retirement of senior players, Tony Popovic, Stan Lazaridis, Tony Vidmar and Zejlko Kalac, more now is expected from Grella.

Arnold rates the 27-year-old highly and believes he has much to offer Australian football ahead of next year's Asian Cup and the 2010

World Cup in South Africa.

"Vinny is different. Vince Grella was my choice as Australian player of the last World Cup," Arnold said Monday.

"Vinny drops in the middle of the back two to pick up the ball and he's the guy who starts the play. He's such a good passer of the ball."

Grella's link play was at the heart of building the Australian attacks against Paraguay, playing short passes to supports and making himself available for the ball as well as breaking up opposing attacks.

Everton star Tim Cahill says Grella has become an integral part of the Australian lineup.

"Vinny is a very good player internationally and domestically and he's a massive part in our second line of defence," Cahill said Monday.

"He played very well last weekend and he keeps the ball so well.

"Vinny Grella will be around for

years to come, along with myself and (Marco) Bresciano and a few others, we're going to be the new era of the Socceroos and fly the flag."

Grella will be playing in his first Asian Cup qualifier against Bahrain here on Wednesday as he picks the matches he can play to fit in with his commitments for Parma.

"If you're playing regularly in Italy, it's not easy to back up after these big flights and then play again," Grella said last week.

"Parma can't do much, it's more in the (Australian) federation's hands and the people running it have to be sensible.

"But they are very smart people at the FFA who understand what how hard it is to hold down the position at your club, you just need a bit of common sense and communication."