After years of promise, Chris Ikonomidis has more than lived up to his potential this season for club and country.
From four goals in his first five appearances for Perth Glory to four assists from five Asian Cup appearances for the Socceroos, the 24-year-old attacker is no longer a prospect and now a highly-rated player.
Having thrived under Tony Popovic at Glory this season, Ikonomidis has also been able to shine for Graham Arnold with Australia's coach surprised by just how well he performed in the UAE.
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“What impressed me about him especially early on was that (Tony Popovic) played a completely different system than what Chris was probably used to,” Arnold told Fox Sports.