Jason Culina is to spend five weeks trianing with PSV Eindhoven ahead of Australia's World Cup campaign.
Aussie midfielder heads back to Holland
Jason Culina is to spend five weeks training with PSV Eindhoven ahead of Australia's World Cup campaign.
The midfielder saw his season come to a close in February as his current employers, Gold Coast United, slipped out of the A-League play-offs.
Keen to keep his fitness levels at a premium ahead of a summer trip to South Africa, he is set to head back to former club PSV on 1st April and will remain in Holland until 5th May.
Culina spent four successful seasons at the Philips Stadion before heading home to Gold Coast last summer.
He had offers from Europe, the Middle East and Asia during the winter transfer window but admits, after holding talks with national coach Pim Verbeek, it was always his intention to return to PSV.
Transition
"The decision to go to PSV was made with Pim's blessing and we both thought it was a very good idea for me to train at a very high level with a top European club," said Gold Coast player of the year Culina, who captained Australia in their recent Asian Cup qualifier against Indonesia.
"I had the option of going to Europe in January and to the Middle East or Asia a few weeks ago, but I declined those offers as PSV was always in the back of my mind.
"My decision was made easier by the standard of football in Holland and the quality of the training, which, with all due respect, is higher than what I would find in Asia or the Middle East.
"I know the area, I know everyone there and they know me, so the transition will hardly be felt at all, which allows me to just slip right in and concentrate on doing what I'm there to do."
