EVER since he started playing the 'world game', St Georges Basin product Jake Trew has wanted on thing.
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To play football professionally.
Now the 19-year-old is closer than ever to achieving his dream, after a string of impressive performances Western Sydney Wanderers youth squad.
"I was first approached [by the Wanderers] by my current coach Arthur Dillos, roughly nine months after my ACL reconstruction in July 2018," Trew said.
"I was asked if I would like to finish up my rehabilitation and start training with the Western Sydney Wanderers National Premier League Two youth side for the rest of the 2017/18 season.
"I took up the offer, as I thought it was the next logical step in my career."
Once the former Vincentia High School student was cleared to resume full training, he attended sessions from 6.30-9am four times a week at Blacktown - which included gym and field drills, followed by his own fitness sessions of beach sprints, running or swimming.
Despite all this dedication to his craft, Trew's first season with the Wanderers has been up and down, largely due to a number of injuries.
They include a snapped ankle ligament (10 weeks), minor ankle ligament tear (three weeks) and corked quadricep (two weeks).
"I've had a handful of injuries, some of which have proven to be major setbacks for the season," said the former Southern Branch star.
"Although no injury is easy to deal with, having gone through the motions of coming back from the ACL injury, I was definitely able to see the 'light at the end of the tunnel' easier than I would have been able to otherwise.
"After going through a broken ankle at 14 and an ACL injury at 17, the injuries I sustained this year have been less mentally challenging."
Trew's luck has finally turned around and attacker is finally stringing together a number of strong performances for the red and blacks.
"I'm feeling great, as my match fitness is improving each week," he said.
"I'm hoping to be back to my peak performance in no time."
The pick of Trew's six games for the Wanderers under 20s NPL Two side this season came against Rydalmere Lions FC on July 6, when he scored a brace in his side's 4-nil win.
On the back of these performances, Trew, a former Australian Schoolboys representative, has recently been invited to start training with the Wanderers' A-League team ahead of their 2019/20 campaign.
"I was extremely happy and excited for the opportunity," he said.
"I'm hoping to gain experience and knowledge by training with the top team, while proving my skills, strengths and ability to the training staff."
While Trew is stoked with this invitation, he acknowledges it's another stepping stone to him achieving his dream of playing professionally.
"After a tough journey so far, the support of Arthur Dillos and the Western Sydney Wanderers, means lots to me and hopefully my debut in the A-League will happen in the near future," he said.