Dean Heffernan: Bad break but is he really a Socceroo

The Heff has been pushed and pushed over the last few weeks as almost a definite starter in the Socceroos Qatar World Cup qualifying game in February.

But he broke his tibia in the "classic game" between the Mariners and Sydney FC on Saturday night.

But was Dean Heffernan really ready for the job? No way, ask Adam Biddle!

Of course he can't play now but hearing so many experts calling for Heffernan to start at left-back left me wondering what these so-called experts have been watching this season.

Heffernan scored heaps of goals from left-back in season one. Everyone agreed this was amazing for a full-back and amazing for the A-League.

Off to Germany he went but never got a game with Nurnburg Hyundai A-League FC.

Why not?

According to Dean the three ball sessions per day in Germany were significantly different to the one ball session and one gym session per day he has had with the Mariners since he has been back.

"I'm hoping my touch has improved at least with all that ball work," Dean told me at a pre-season game in Canberra in July.

So now Dean is out, perhaps cooler heads can analyse his performances.

He's still attacking although not scoring. In recent games against Sydney, where it was party time, and Adelaide away, his forward movement has been important for his team. Although I reckon his forward play hasn't been as effective as it was in season one.

His defending has been woeful. Discipline problems persist. At free-kicks and corners he can play a very dangerous game of elbowing the opponent in the head. A high-risk strategy.

And worryingly to me all season has been his defensive capabilities. Maybe this is why he never got a game in Germany.

And Saturday revealed the worst and perhaps most important part of a possible left-sided Socceroos game.

With the scores at 3-3. The Mariners were back in the game, despite their ten-men. Somehow Tony Popovic had contrived to earn the Mariners a penalty. His experience:) Either way the ten-man were back at 3-3 and looking like a point.

Then Adam Biddle the Sydney FC winger tore away with the Heff, chasing hard. One on one. Pace and experience against Biddle.

A great test for the Qatar game I thought.

Biddle not only got to the ball first, kept it and bashed the Heff off, then managed to waltz around him without even a sniff of Lionel Messi type skill.

And the Heff had done nothing, neither forced him wide, held him up or tackled. He didn't even make a foul, very unlike the Heff or any A-League professionals in such a situation but there you go.

Biddle went in and scored. A great goal.

For me Qatar will probably pose more threat, more pace, skill and more craft than Biddle has yet to show. And the Heff could have been cruelly exposed.

We need him in the A-League. The Mariners love him. I love to watch him go forward, but he is not an international defender in any one's terms.

Defence first eh Pim and then the rest of the stuff.

Dean Heffernan should not be our first choice Socceroo left-back for the home qualifiers.

If it is to be an A-League player, Nikolai Topor-Stanley or maybe even Matt Thompson from the Jets.

I'd go with Topor-Stanley. A player on the rise, an Olyroo with experience and the outstanding left-back of the A-League this season. And with Asian Champions League football he has played at a higher level than the Heff.

A bit to learn, who hasn't, but he'll be in good shape should we actually get to the World Cup. Still young and raring to go.

For the Heff hopefully a speedy recovery. Football can be a cruel game. On Saturday night in one of the best domestic football games this country has ever seen, the Heff's season and immediate footballing future was ripped away from him.