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Melbourne City star Mathew Leckie has not given up hope of the Socceroos being folded but says he must start the A-League season well to force his way into the plans of newly appointed national team boss Tony Popovic .
The Popovic era began in positive fashion on Thursday night, with Australia beating China 3-1 at Adelaide Oval.
Leckie, 33, was not included in Popovic’s squad for the current international window, nor was he selected last month by then-Socceroos coach Graham Arnold for Australia’s 1-0 defeat to Bahrain and the 0-0 draw with Indonesia.
The versatile attacker’s cause has not been helped because the A-League season will not begin until October 18.
“Of course I would love to be there now (in the Socceroos team),” Leckie said.
“I’ve always loved going to the national team and playing for Australia, but this time of year is always difficult for the A-League players, and especially for me too.
“I haven’t always been able to get too many games under my belt.”
That’s why the opening weeks of the A-League season will be crucial to Leckie’s hopes of being selected in Australia’s squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. .
Melbourne City star Mathew Leckie has not given up hope of the Socceroos being folded but knows he must get off to a strong start to the A-League season to force his way into coach Tony Popovic’s plans.
Leckie became an instant Socceroos legend after his goal against Denmark secured qualification to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“What I’m focusing on most right now is starting the season, playing well, playing consistent games (and) getting some consistent minutes – then it depends on the coach,” said the 2022 World Cup hero.
‘There’s been a change there, and ‘Dad’ will have his ideas. If I’m in them, great. “I’ll just try to do my thing on the field for (Melbourne) City to give myself every chance of being picked again (for the Socceroos).”
Leckie fully understood Arnold’s decision last month to step down as national coach after six years in the role.
“He made it pretty clear that he had probably been thinking about it for a while, and if he thought he was no longer the right man to do it, that’s completely understandable,” he said.
“For him to say that he should leave would not have been easy, but he has done it for himself and also for the national team.”
Melbourne City begin their new A-League campaign on October 19 against Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium, with Leckie determined to help his club regain their status as title contenders after finishing in the top six this season. passed and be eliminated in the final. First week of the final.
“If you start the season slowly, you feel like you’re just playing catch-up and that was definitely the feeling last season,” he said.
“Hopefully we can get off to a good start and build from there.”