BACK-UPS are very important.

If your computer system crashes and you don’t have a backup, you’re stuffed. I know this from personal experience. ‘Stuffed’ is the technical term by the way.

The thought of backups was on my mind before the start of the current A-League season. The Reds had just secured the services of a 19 year old player by the name of Scott Jamieson and supposedly, he was a decent left-sided player.

Great, I thought, now we have a backup for Cassio and Lucas Pantelis on the left. Nice work.

When the club that you love signs a new player, it’s like introducing a recently-selected pet into the family home. Suddenly they’re in your world; you take an interest in them because your paths now inevitably cross. You also hope that they don’t soil the carpet.

Jamo’s credentials seemed impressive. He’d had a three year stint at EPL club Bolton Wanderers, where he had some success as part of their reserves team, and he even got a limited run with the first team. Not bad for someone so young.

He’d also played some junior football for Australia. He was a member of the Joeys squad in 2005 when they played at the FIFA World Championships.

Right from the moment he first pulled on a Reds’ shirt he’s been impressive. He plays with a confidence and flair that belies his age.

Backup, smackup. In a short time he’s made the left-back role his own and would now be one of the first players Vidmar selects each week. His form was also rewarded with a call-up to the Socceroos squad earlier this year.

Quite simply, he’s the sort of player that the A-League needs more of. He’s not scared to take players on and he runs constantly, like a leaky tap. He’s the type of player that you would go out of your way to see, an entertainer.

My fear though is that we won’t get to see him in Australia for too long. Overseas clubs will undoubtedly come a’knocking. Until then, A-League fans, enjoy.

His destiny, at least in the short-term, is again to be backup. This time though, for a big overseas club, perhaps someone in the EPL.

In that scenario, I certainly wouldn’t want to be the current left-back. Look out!