Simmons, who last season became the third youngest debutant in Newcastle's A-League history at 17 years, two months, was named on Thursday for a 30-player training camp in Canberra in July, the first step towards selection in the Australian Joeys squad to compete against 23 other nations.

"It's a great opportunity, a great stage, and a chance for them to be in the shop window worldwide," Merrick said of the tournament.

"It really gives them a chance to measure themselves against the best in the world, in their age group."

Simmons played 20 minutes off the bench in Newcastle's penultimate-round 6-1 win against Brisbane last season and Merrick expects the St Francis Xavier's College year-11 student to feature more prominently in the season ahead.

"He's creative, he's quick, he's very good technically and he's a good dribbler, on the ball," Merrick said of the No.10.

"I'd like to see him get into goalscoring positions a bit more, but he's progressing very well with our senior squad and he'll certainly get an opportunity to play more often this year, probably off the bench."

The Kotara South Tigers junior toured China with the Jets 12 months ago and came on as substitute to score a goal in Newcastle's 2-0 win against high-profile Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua.

He has been playing the Newcastle's youth team in the Northern NSW National Premier League since he was 15 and Merrick said he had been "excelling" in that competition this season.

"He's been getting good experience, playing against men instead of boys," Merrick said of Simmons, who juggles his school commitments so that he can attend most of Newcastle's training sessions.

Of the 30 players chosen for the for the Joeys' training camp, to be held in July, 20 are aligned to A-League clubs, four play with NPL outfits, and six will arrive from overseas clubs.