Pittsburgh 24-year-old Pat Sullivan arrived in Launceston on Wednesday night on the recommendation of a previous US import, 2017 NPL Tasmania team of the year midfielder Dylan Williams. 

Six foot five with an eye for a pass, the powerful centre-back will strengthen a defence which let in only 22 goals last season. 

“I like to win tackles, get stuck in and lead the backline - do what I can to help win matches, that’s my role,” Sullivan said.

“I’ve heard from a couple of players that it’s a pretty physical league which I think is pretty good for my type of play - and that it’s direct and fast-paced.

“As far as Launceston, I’ve heard it’s a great club with a lot of good people that are going to really help me - very welcoming to start so I’m excited to get going.”

Sullivan joined in on his first training session on Thursday night, and enjoyed a session which included “a lot of running”. 

The former Slippery Rock University talent spent last year playing alongside Williams and a handful of other Americans at amateur Swedish outfit Grythyttan IF, who won promotion to the country’s third division. 

“Dylan and I were roommates - we got along really well and it was great playing with him, we always pushed each other to get better,” Sullivan said. 

“I was always asking him about Australia because I’ve always been curious - opportunities to go to Australia are pretty rare to come by and to be able to do something you love and play soccer… I was picking his brain a lot and it was probably just right place, right time.

“[Director of coaching Roger Mies] emailed him about him coming back but he’d signed with a pretty good team with Sweden, so then he threw in a good word for me and it’s been good ever since.

“Dylan’s been giving me a lot of advice and tips so I’m just thankful, he’s been a good friend and a good player.”

Sullivan is also grateful for the chance to thaw out in the heat of a warm Tasmanian summer.

“It’s freezing back home, we actually got a huge snowstorm right before I left.

“We had six to eight inches of snow - I think it was minus six degrees so this weather is paradise.”

City could still add another Amercian to its ranks before the NPL season begins, with former McPherson University midfielder Greg Roller to trial at the club in February.