Will McKay fly?

While Brisbane Roar comfortably defeated Melbourne Heart 2-1 tonight, they would dearly miss captain Matt McKay should he leave the club. Captain for the opposing team Simon Colosimo seems to think this outcome highly probable.

McKay, who overnight will help the Socceroos lift their first Asian Cup defeating Japan in the final [hopefully I'm not jinxing it], is quickly firming his spot in the national team. Providing good cover for the left midfield role whilst also allowing Harry Kewell to focus more solely on goal-scoring, Colosimo has high praise for the Brisbane captain.

“He's probably been Roar's stand-out player all season. He's doing really well and it just proves that football in the A-League is on the up, with a player like Matt going over there and not only playing, but standing out.”

Colosimo is aware of the spike in recent transfers overseas, and the movements of his colleagues and friends leads him to the belief that McKay's next step is an offshore contract.

“In the last month I think we've lost half a dozen. We're close to losing Brosquey, Luke's gone. I hate to say it, but I'd be very surprised if Matt played Finals football.

“Considering the way he's playing I think there'll be quite a few clubs [interested in him]. It's the predicament we're in, everyone wants to play in the big leagues.”

“I don't think it's a bad thing, but there's definitely going to be some clubs knocking on A-League doors.”

Brisbane Roar coach Ange Postecoglou believes otherwise, of the opinion McKay would not leave the club lightly.

“We don't want people to move on but that's a natural fact of life. But I don't think anyone will move on, particularly somebody like Matt, just for development of their careers.

“It would have to be something pretty good to go away from here because he knows he's worked hard. He's been here six years since day one and he's not going to want to miss being part of something special - which we're hopefully building here over the next two or three years.

Postecoglou's men have scored an impressive 52 goals this season and now hold the record for the longest unbeaten streak; 23 games. He is full of praise for McKay, and may encounter a selection headache should McKay stay with the Roar into the Finals series.

“[Matt]'s a great player, he's great around the boys, he's their captain.

“He'll definitely come back full of confidence. He's been missing for a little while now, and you forget the impact he can have on the opposition as well as our team.”

But the returning Socceroo's spot is not guaranteed, and if he does eventually leave, Ange Postecoglou would almost certainly move on quickly.

“We've won without him”.