There are a lot of discussions surrounding who Aston Villa will get to replace Robin Olsen as the No. 2. Perhaps the club does not need to look too far. Joe Gauci spent the past season at Barnsley. He is a talented keeper and has given glimpses of what he could look like in an increased role with any club.
Gauci's deal is set to expire at the end of the month. As is known, there are a lot of moving pieces on the business side of Villa before the end of the fiscal year. What happens for the keeper will be the topic of discussion for a different day.
On June 10, Australia defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1 in World Cup qualifying. That victory ensured passage for the Socceroos to the 2026 World Cup. For Gauci, it means a spot on a side that will participate in North America during the world's largest tournament.
This is what players all dream about. Having the chance to wear the home country colors and represent the fellow countrymen for everyone to see is the ultimate aim of a player.
A post shared by Gauci on X mentioned:
"World cup bound! I have spent my life watching these moments from afar, so proud to be a part of this special group!"
As anyone can imagine, this honor is exciting for the keeper, and the prospect of being part of the team preparations next year is a thrilling one. This is something that Gauci should enjoy with a great sense of pride.
While his stay at Villa is in the air at the moment. It says a lot that his loan spell at Barnsley was enough for his inclusion in the Australian squad. In the event he stays and trains for Unai Emery, for club and country, he will be ready to step up in the event of either No. 1 being forced to miss time on the pitch for whatever reason.