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James Overy played in two group games at the recent Under-20 World Cup He has yet to play any senior football. only joined Manchester United last summer and last year was playing in the 10th tier of English football. But 18-year-old right-back James Overy, who played for United's Under-18s against Leeds on Saturday, could be heading to next summer's World Cup finals after being called up to the Australia squad for friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia in the United States. Former Perth Glory teenager Overy moved to Devon from Australia in 2023, playing for Newton Abbot Spurs' first team in the South West Peninsula League before being signed by United's academy a year later. A significant Achilles tendon injury stalled Overy's progress but his talent has been evident in United colours at both Under-18 and Under-21 level, featuring against senior opposition in National League Cup ties at Tamworth and Rochdale. Overy is a quick right-back, can cover central defenders well and press forward. Yet his call-up presumably owes everything to his performances for his country at last month's Under-20 World Cup in Chile, even though Australia failed to make it out of the group stage. "He's worth having a look at, " said Australia boss Tony Popovic of the youngster who has not been in a matchday squad for the United senior team. "I'm open minded about what that looks like for the immediate future and long term. "Watching him closely in Chile, I was impressed. "We have good contacts at Manchester United, so we know what he's doing at training. "He's in the process where he's getting called up (to first-team training) a lot more often. " Overy is among seven uncapped players in the Australia squad as Popovic looks to build depth before next summer's World Cup, which is the sixth in succession that they have qualified for and seventh overall. The defender is also eligible to play for Scotland and has represented them at Under-19 level. Weirdly, Overy could join fellow full-back Diego Leon (Paraguay) and wide-man James Scanlon (Gibraltar) in making his senior international bow before he has played a first team game for Manchester United. England are going to the 2026 World Cup - who else has qualified? Latest Manchester United news, analysis and fan views Ask about Man Utd - what do you want to know? 'Champion's weekend from flawless Norris but Verstappen shines brightest' The final frontier: Why has Root never made a century down under? 'It has to be a crisis' - Reaction as Liverpool's struggles continue The Vasa galleon: The ship that sank in the Baltic Sea When Gaddafi’s son played in Italy’s top football league All episodes of the award-winning sitcom return to BBC i Player Stabbed as a boy, now a poet for a lost generation Hoardings, showers & pink dressing rooms - the 'creative' ways clubs get an edge The final frontier: Why has Root never made a century down under? Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week? Can you name every player dismissed by Flintoff in an Ashes Test? 'Man City make ominous statement in brutal lesson for Liverpool' 'Champion's weekend from flawless Norris but Verstappen shines brightest' 'It can't go on' - how Liverpool's tactics helped brilliant Doku run riot Are Celtic & Rangers starting to click in pursuit of Hearts? 'We have let everybody down' - Newcastle struggle on the road again Why Fin Smith is England's number one fly-half Valuable lessons and tough losses - world number one Sabalenka's 2025 Advertising boards and chaos - how Sunderland stopped Arsenal machine Arundell pace and quality bench power England home 'Scotland looked immortality in the eye and said not today' Watched by 132, 418 fans - but will Rugby League Ashes stay? 'Sincaraz' heads for fitting final chapter of 2025 Hayes on her feminist dad, anxiety and feeling like a grandparent to players 'Tuchel and England's world will not revolve around Bellingham' From non-league to England call-up - who is 'Guernsey Grealish' Scott? Baffling? Distracting? The fallout from Earps' book Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.