Striker Oliver Colloty trialling with FA Cup giantkillers Sheffield Wednesday

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New Zealand U-19 striker Oliver Colloty is reported to be trialling with English League One club Sheffield Wednesday in the hope of landing a professional contract.

The 19-year-old Melville United forward has headed to the United Kingdom following the conclusion of New Zealand’s men’s National League in which he was fourth on the competition’s Golden Boot table with six goals.

Sheffield Wednesday are riding high, in second place on the League One table and caused an upset win against Chris Wood’s Newcastle United in the third round of the FA Cup at the weekend.

Main photo: Oliver Colloty … his goals helped New Zealand qualify for this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.

It’s not the first time in his career that Colloty has crossed the world in search of a UK contract.

In 2019, when still a student at Otago Boys High School, Colloty spend two weeks trialling with English Championship club Reading.

Since then, he has built a senior career in New Zealand, scoring four goals in seven games for Christchurch United in 2021, and earning the Youth Player of the Year title for the Mainland Premier League.

In 2022, he moved north to join Melville United and became the club’s leading goalscorer in the Northern League and National League.

He won selection to the national age group side that won the OFC U-19 Championship in Tahiti, securing a place at this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup. He shared the Golden Boot at the U-19 Championship, with Kian Donkers, after scoring nine goals at the tournament in Papeete.

OFC U-19 Champtionship Award winners Oliver Colloty (left), Jay Herdman (centre) and Henry Gray. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.

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