Aussies abroad: Good's FA Cup comeback

Curtis Good has made his long-awaited return to Newcastle United’s first team in the FA Cup overnight, there were important wins for a couple of Caltex Socceroo midfielders in England and it was a mixed night for winger Mat Leckie in Germany.

After almost three years since his last appearance for the Magpies first team due to a string of injury troubles, Good was thrust into the starting XI for their FA Cup fourth round clash at Oxford United.

While it ended in a disappointing 3-0 defeat, Good’s return is a huge positive for Rafa Benitez’s troops in their push for promotion back to the EPL.

The 23-year-old has been able to put in a full pre-season for the first time in many years, while playing a host of matches for the club’s under-23 side.

Elsewhere in the FA Cup, Aaron Mooy came off the bench as Huddersfield Town moved into round five with a 4-0 rout of Rochdale.

Mooy was introduced with 20 minutes left and almost immediately set up a goal for Michael Hefele, while he was also involved in the Terriers’ fourth.

Bailey Wright was skipper for Bristol City as they were dumped out of the FA Cup after a 2-0 loss against EPL side Burnley.

In the Championship, it was an all-Aussie affair at Loftus Road as Massimo Luongo’s QPR hosted Jackson Irvine, who captained Burton Albion on his return from injury.

And it was Irvine who got the better of his Caltex Socceroo teammate as Burton secured a crucial 2-1 win to move out of the relegation zone.

There was a huge three points for Mathew Leckie in the Bundesliga as well, as his FC Ingolstadt beat Hamburg 3-1.

Leckie set up his side’s opening goal on 14 minutes only to be forced off with a bruised left leg just before half-time, although the injury isn’t believed to be serious.

In Scotland, striker Scott McDonald was sent off after just 27 minutes as Motherwell lost 2-0 at Rangers, who were also reduced to 10-men in the first half.

In-form Ryan Edwards got through a full 90 minutes as Partick Thistle drew 0-0 at Inverness.

There was a six-goal thriller for Cameron Burgess in League One, as his Bury drew 3-3 with Wallsall, while James Meredith’s Bradford City beat Oldham Athletic 2-1.