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Melbourne City midfielder Luke Brattan wants to use the final rounds of the A-League season -- and hopefully a title win -- as a springboard back to European football.
The 27-year-old has made clear his ambitions as City return to A-League action this weekend against Newcastle Jets.
A championship comes first. And then, if all goes to plan, a return to the northern hemisphere to give the big leagues another crack.
"No shying away from it. I want to play overseas," he told reporters on Wednesday.
The fringe Socceroo won a move to Premier League titans Manchester City after the 2014-15 season but couldn't challenge for a first-team berth there or at second-tier loan side Bolton.
A move to the club's A-League affiliate was an obvious solution to his lack of game time, and has proved fruitful for both club and player this season.
With less than two months remaining in City's A-League season, Brattan said he had "no idea" where he might be next season.
"I could be anywhere next year," he said. "At the moment I'm here and want to win another championship. I want to do big things with this club.
"The future is very bright but I'm desperate for another championship so hopefully we can do that this year."
With two years remaining on his Manchester City contract, Brattan said he had enough time to make it abroad -- and the best way to do so would be lifting another trophy at the end of the season.
"My personal goals are different from the team. That's all that matters, the footballing team," he said. When City face the Jets at AAMI Park, Brattan might be hard to spot.
The 27-year-old showed his compassionate side on Wednesday, enlisting a barber to shave off two years worth of locks as part of the World's Greatest Shave.
Brattan has raised $17,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation and hopes the haircut will have many benefits.
"Hopefully I'm a bit quicker on the field as well, I need all the help I can get," he joked.
"It's a fantastic cause and it's close to my heart. I've had a close family friend suffering from this for a while now and all the money and awareness we can raise is great for the people that need it."
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