AUSTRALIAN Mathew Leckie has won praise from his new boss at Borussia Moenchengladbach after scoring a double in the weekend's 5-2 friendly win over Aberdeen.
Leckie, 20, who joined Moenchengladbach from Adelaide United at the end of last season, came off the bench at half-time against Aberdeen with an immediate effect.
The game had been level 1-1 at the break before Leckie scored with one of his first touches, placing a curling shot into the top-right corner.
Mike Hanke grabbed a double before Leckie made it 5-1 from close-range late on.
After the game Moenchengladbach boss Lucien Favre told the club's website he was impressed with what he saw in Leckie.
“He has speed and power - that was important for me to see, because that can make all the difference in the Bundesliga," Favre said.
“Mathew is from Australia and still has much to learn. With an opponent on his back he struggled to maintain the ball. But I have seen many good things from him.”
Favre added he felt Leckie could have easily got a hat-trick after being hauled down late on.
"On a solo run he was fouled, otherwise he would be running up alone on goal and might have scored another,” Favre said.
Melbourne-born Leckie, who is still uncapped for the Socceroos, said he was delighted to find the back of the net for his new club.
"It's a nice feeling to score for the first time for my new club,” Leckie said.
“In the other warm-up games I had missed a few chances, so that makes me more pleased that it has now worked out.”
Moenchengladbach's first competitive game of the season is on July 29 in the first round of the German DFB Pokal against third tier Jahn Regensburg.
Related Articles
Socceroos midfielder embraces move to England
Cardiff City snap up sought-after Socceroos starlet
