A TALENTED Balranald junior footballer has overcome a potentially life-long debilitating leg injury to return to the game he loves and earn a spot in the Australian Under 15s team.

Kobe Lloyd was named among the top 25 Under 15 schoolboys footballers in Australia at last weekend's national carnival in Geelong, after spending most of last season in a wheelchair following a farm accident.

The carnival highlighted the talent from all the available students in both public and private schools across Australia.

"Being selected was a total surprise. I thought I had a good carnival but I never really expected to be selected for the Australian team," Lloyd said.

"There were just so many good players and only 25 spots up for grabs."

Lloyd was sidelined for 18 months when both bones in his lower leg were broken in the accident. He spent the best part of last year in a wheelchair, with his leg in a brace.

His first real game back was the try-outs for the South West Riverina side in Narrandera. 

For more on this story see Wednesday's Guardian (August 5, 2015).