Melbourne City FC can announce it has signed French winger Harry Novillo on an injury replacement contract for Damien Duff until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2014/15 season.

The 23-year-old Frenchman flew into Melbourne on Monday night and joined his new Melbourne City FC teammates in training on Tuesday morning at the City Football Academy, Melbourne.

A product of the youth system at French Ligue 1 side Lyon, Novillo is a powerful right-footed winger who can provide versatility in Melbourne City FC’s final third.

Novillo can play as either a right or left winger and has earned caps for France’s U17 and U19 national sides.

His most recent club was Clermont in France’s second tier, Ligue 2, but his career commenced at Lyon, where he made his professional debut in 2010 in a Ligue 1 match against Monaco.

Melbourne City FC Head Coach John van’t Schip said Novillo was an important replacement for the sidelined Duff.

“Harry has proven experience playing at a high level as a winger in France and we are confident that he will help us for the remainder of the A-League season,” van’t Schip said.

Novillo will be available to feature against Central Coast Mariners this Sunday at Central Coast Stadium in Round 20 of the Hyundai A-League, pending his VISA and international clearance.

Novillo will wear jersey number 9.

Player Details

Name: Harry Novillo (Pronunciation: No-vee-low)

Position: Winger/Striker

Age: 23

Height: 1.82m

Number: 9

Previous Clubs: Lyon, Clermont