Date: February 20th 2010
Author: Not Specified
From: AFP / The Age

Socceroos defender Dean Heffernan has just weeks left to fulfil his ambition of landing a permanent contract in English football.

Heffernan wants to remain in Europe when his short-term deal with English League One club Huddersfield Town ends in May rather than rejoin new A-League side Melbourne Heart.

But the 29-year-old faces a race against time to convince Huddersfield - or any other potential suitors across Europe - he's worthy of a permanent contract beyond the end of the current season.

The former Central Coast Mariners player insisted on writing a release clause into the Heart contract he agreed in November that allows him to join an overseas-based side for a nominal fee before starting pre-season training in Melbourne.

That clause must be activated before the end of March, however, leaving Heffernan just eight more games to win the full-time deal in England he craves.

"That would be wonderful," he said.

"The only problem with (staying) is there's only a month to get it sorted before I become an official Heart player no matter what," the Australia left-back added.

"Basically I've got up until then to show what I'm worth and for them (Huddersfield) to decide if they want to keep me here. Either way I'm happy, but I'd like to stay here and keep playing, that's for sure.

"Anyone would want to play in Europe and test themselves."

Huddersfield manager Lee Clark has tried various players at left-back during his year-long tenure with the Yorkshire club, but twice-capped Heffernan has made an immediate impact at the Terriers, with supporters instantly taking to his determined displays.

He was Huddersfield's outstanding performer in the 2-1 victory over Carlisle on Tuesday, a win that stretched the club's unbeaten run to eight league games.

They now stand seventh in League One, just a point from the playoff places and with serious aspirations of playing in England's second tier next season.

"I'm at a really good club, I'm playing, I'm fit. Everything seems to be moving in the right direction," said Heffernan.

"The fans here have been wonderful to me and everyone involved with the club has been great since I arrived. I couldn't have asked for any more of a welcome. I've just got to repay them on the pitch now."

Heffernan is determined not to let a second chance of an overseas contract slip from his grasp.

His year-long loan spell at German club Nuremberg during the 2006/07 Bundesliga season never got off the ground because of injury and the pressure for first-team spots and he was forced to rebuild back in the A-League.

But Heffernan was the standout Australian left-back in the A-League again this season after spending a year sidelined following a broken leg.

And he is rivalling Socceroos regulars Scott Chipperfield and David Carney for a World Cup berth after catching the eye of the national team and impressing as an eleventh hour call-up in the Asian Cup qualifying draw in Kuwait City last month.

That performance and Pim Verbeek's stance on his Socceroos hopefuls playing regularly in the build-up to June's World Cup in South Africa led to Heffernan's Huddersfield deal - a switch he dreams of turning permanent.

"Either way I'm quite happy," he said. "If I end up back at Heart I'll be stoked. It's going to be a good club.

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-sport/heffernan-in-race-to-land-euro-deal-20100220-omeg.html