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#TalentTrack returns for a new season

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#TalentTrack returns for a new season
#TalentTrack returns for a new season
#TalentTrack returns for a new season

The return of Talent Track starts by looking at on-loan forward Richmond Boakye, whose 90th-minute winner against Parma lifted Atalanta away from the relegation zone and up into a more comfortable mid-table position.

Since making the move from Juventus this summer, the 21-year-old has scored twice in seven appearances, his first coming against Cagliari on the second day of the season.

Boakye’s early promise at Genoa and goals on loan with Sassuolo saw the Bianconeri move to secure his services in the summer of 2012, with Antonio Conte naming him in his pre-season squad for Chatillon and the Trofeo TIM.

A temporary move back to Sassuolo then followed, where his pace, physical presence and 11 league goals made a positive contribution to the Neroverdi’s long awaited return to the top fight.

The start of last season saw Boakye broaden his horizons with a fresh challenge in Spain, where he netted six goals in 32 appearances for newly-promoted Elche, who maintained their top flight status by finishing in 16th place.

Over in Belgium, another last-gasp winner, this time from James Troisi, secured Zulte Waregem a 3-2 away triumph over St. Liegi.

Having completed a move in August, the attacking midfielder is plying his trade this season in Belgium’s Pro League after a series of impressive performances for Melbourne Victory last year earned him a place in the Socceroos’ World Cup 2014 squad.

The 26-year-old, who joined the Bianconeri on a four-year deal in August 2012, has taken in many stops on a cosmopolitan route around world football.

After earning his first professional contract with English Premier League club Newcastle United, Troisi went on to make his name at Turkish Super Lig outfits Gençlerbirliği and Kayserispor.

His move to Atalanta, as part of a deal involving Manolo Gabbiadini, yielded just six starts and zero goals in the 2012/13 campaign, with a loan switch to Melbourne viewed as the ideal opportunity for the midfielder to get regular first team football under his belt.

A string of consistent showings and goalscoring exploits attracted the attention of national coach Ange Postecoglou, who handed Troisi World Cup action as a late substitute in Australia’s 3-1 loss to Chile.

Back on Italian soil, Manolo Gabbiadini hit a fourth goal of the season as high-flying Sampdoria were held to a 2-2 draw by Cagliari in Sardinia.

After netting a personal best of ten in the last campaign, the 22-year-old has picked up where he left off, playing an important role in a team that has shot up to third place in Serie A behind Juventus and Roma.

Following spells at Atalanta, Cittadella and Bologna, Gabbiadini’s registration rights are now shared by Juventus and Sampdoria, and he will be hoping his striking prowess will enable him to add to his solitary Azzurri cap.

Meanwhile in Serie B, an academy prospect on loan at promotion chasing Perugia, Nicolò Pozzebon, made his debut in Saturday’s 1-1 away draw against Lanciano.

Manager Andrea Camplone currently finds his side in the mix of the play-off spots on 15 points, and would have been pleased to see them arrest a recent slide which has brought back-to-back reverses against table toppers Frosinone and Spezia.

Striker Pozzebon came on for Lorenzo Del Prete in the 72th minute and picked up a yellow card as the game entered its dying stages.

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