MANILA---Filipino-British goalie Neil Etheridge is expected to sign a fresh deal this week that will keep him with English Premiere League side Fulham for the next two years.
It will be the longest contract in the budding career of the 22-year-old Azkals keeper, who rose from the Fulham Academy ranks to break into the first team this season when he was an unused substitute for several games last October and January.
"I’m happy to be signing a new two-year deal at Fulham," Etheridge said in a message to the Inquirer.
"I have been working for this all year, now I have more stability in my contract which allows me to go out on loan and experience other routes."
Etheridge played 11 times for the national team over the past six months and was a standout performer in the Suzuki Cup last year and the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying tournament last month.
Based in London, Fulham, owned by British businessman Mohammed Al-Fayed and managed by former Manchester United star Mark Hughes, has been accomodating to Etheridge’s request to extend his stints with the
national side, especially last December during the Suzuki Cup.
"Fulham have always been good to me and now I can slowly repay the favor by being a larger part of their first team," Etheridge added.
"There were some options to depart from the club but for long term development and structure in my football career, it was always in my interest to stay at Fulham."
Azkals manager Dan Palami welcomed the development in Etheridge’s career, saying the goalkeeper’s stay at Fulham will only develop him further and benefit the national team.
At Fulham, Etheridge trains alongside World Cup veteran Mark Schwarzer of Australia, David Stockdale of England and Swiss veteran Pascal Zuberbuhler, who is expected to join the Azkals staff as goalkeeping coach for the World Cup qualifiers.
"Training with a great man on and off the pitch like Mark has been a great experience and I’m sure his greatness has rubbed off on me. He has a great work ethic and a true professional," said Etheridge. "Zubi (Zuberbuhler) has been more like a father figure guiding me."
Cedelf Tupas, Inquirer.net
