Young Socceroo Caira has returned to Australia from Villa's youth ranks to join Western Sydney Wanderers in search of first team football to propel him towards his own golden moment.

Caira last night played the second half as the Wanderers continued their winning form with a 2-0 victory over Blacktown City in front of more than 3000 fans at Lily Homes Stadium, with both goals scored by Labinot Haliti.

The versatile 19-year old has already caught the eye playing as a central midfielder in the Wanderers' pre-season - and now has his eyes on a national call-up for the AFC U19 Championships in November.

He's heeding the advice of Young Socceroos boss Paul Okon and hopes to step up in the A-League - and make his decision to come home pay immediate dividends.

“I've taken a different path coming back to the A-League but it doesn't mean I won't be looked at in the same way [as Herd],” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“I'll just have to keep working hard and hopefully get my chance when I get a bit older and stronger.

“I was searching for first team football and I had the choice of dropping down to (English) League One or League Two football but that style of physical, long ball play over there in the lower leagues wasn't what I was looking for.

“From what I'd heard about the A-League from my Young Socceroos team-mates and my friends, the teams are all starting to learn how to play proper football with passing and playing out from the back.

“With any first team, you always have to work hard to get the chance. I think I'm ready to step up and do it but I'll have to prove it and do it on the pitch and see what happens.

“From when I left, the A-League has got a lot stronger. Give it another five or 10 years and it could be at a very good level.”

Until he finds some digs in Western Sydney, Caira is doing the long commute from his home region of the Central Coast to his new club, and he admitted a trial with the Mariners could have been on the cards.

“But I took the chance with Popovic and I liked what I saw with him and I didn't want to pass up the opportunity, so I took it,” he said.

Caira was part of the recent AFC U22 qualifying tournament in Indonesia, where Okon took a younger than required side in order to prepare them for November's tournament and hopefully the subsequent U20 World Cup.

But after falling ill for most of the Indonesian adventure, which featured five matches in 10 days in extreme conditions, Caira largely missed the chance to impress and will be keen to get off to strong start in the A-League to cement his international spot.

As Popovic continues to fill his squad, it is difficult to see just where Caira sits in the Wanderers' pecking order.

Though he is also capable up and down the left flank, Caira fancies himself in the engine room of Popovic's 4-2-3-1 and it's there he has formed a potentially exciting combination with the impressive Aaron Mooy.

“Aaron is a bit more attacking than me,” Caira said. “I more get the ball and try to open up the opposition. I try to break down a lot of play, covering a lot of ground and putting tackles in.

“Poppa wants a centre midfielder to be able to get the ball and play it quickly, and force passes forward and get the ball in between the opposition's midfield and back line.”

Coming back hasn't meant a step back in Caira's eyes, and he said the good vibe around the A-League's newest club is only getting better as more pieces continue to fall into place.

He added: “I've been very impressed with how professional Wanderers are and what they're trying to achieve.

“The more signings we get, the more the boys are getting confident to be able to do well this season. We're not here to make up the numbers, we're here to compete.

“The fans have been great for us, they help and motivate the boys, so it's good to see so many signed up with memberships.”