Bulut, 18, was back in town last week training with the Young Socceroos ahead of the AFC U19 championships in China next week.

The pacy, direct forward left Sydney FC at the end of last season after scoring 13 goals for the sky blue NYL team. A trial with Czech Republic first division club Mlada Boleslav turned out well and he signed a three year deal over the European summer.

Bulut was on the fringes of first team football with FC last season but like other fringe strikers Chris Payne (now with Fury) and Adelaide recruit Iain Ramsay, sought greener pastures and was allowed to leave.

In hindsight FC may be regretting letting the trio go given their striking woes this season. But Bulut has not regretted signing for Czechs – even if he’s got one eye on an A-League return.

Bulut has now played six of the last seven games and scored for Mlada against Pribram as he builds his career overseas.

“I just wanted to progress as a player,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com when quizzed on his move. 

“It’s different but I miss Sydney and miss the A-League and hopefully maybe in the future I’m going to be back. You’ve got to play -  if you don’t play nothing falls for you.

"It’s good I’m playing and hopefully things will fall for me and I stay focused. I will come back and hopefully I will come back to Sydney.

"It depends, it’s hard to tell. Tomorrow I could get injured – only time will tell.”

Bulut, who’s sporting some spectacular tattoos these days, recently came up against a familiar face from his days in the harbour city.

“I played against Karol [Kisel]," he revealed. "He plays for Slavia Prague. I spoke to him before the game and we were even talking on the field.

“I played on his side of the ground and after we caught up.”

However, being away from his club on Young Socceroo duty won’t help his cause – as many young players trying to establish their club careers overseas will testify to.

Bulut now looms as a key part of what is shaping as a dynamic Young Socceroo strike force. But even he is will be no certain starter in Jan Versleijen’s squad for the AFC U19 championships starting in China next week.

Playmaker Musty Amini, Matt Leckie, Tommy Oar and Matthew Fletcher all are expected to start. It won't be easy for Bulut to force his way in, but the teen with the dual Aussie and Turkish heritage is ready for the challenge.

He added: “For me, playing for my national team is no problem [for his club career]. 

“It’s a good experience and hopefully we can qualify for the youth World Cup [in Colombia].”