On paper, Holland has everything going for him. Under Gary van Egmond, he is currently benefiting from the tutelage of the A-League’s most progressive coach. He has also been one of the few teens to be given exposure to the full Socceroos side in recent years.

With the athleticism and technical ability to play in a variety of roles, Holland is the best placed of our younger generation to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Jason Culina and Luke Wilkshire – the midfield glue that sticks our national side together.

Holland recognises though, that while the fun and games of youth may be over, his story is only just beginning.

“At the moment football’s all I want. I want to saturate myself in football because I love it. I want to excel at it, I love being around it,” he beams.

“I saw an interview with [former rugby league player] Brad Fittler where he said when he was younger that’s all he wanted, he wanted to saturate himself in rugby league. But when he had his family it was a big change, and probably a better change for him.

"I thought about that, and I’m at that stage where I just can’t get enough of it and that’s all I want.”

We spoke to James to celebrate the launch of Pro Evolution Soccer 2009. The game is out now on all major gaming formats.

This feature originally appeared in the November issue of FourFourTwo Australia magazine. Subscribe today...