Craig Goodwin is looking to bring his stellar form for Adelaide United into the Socceroos setup when they host Vietnam in front of a buzzing Melbourne crowd on Thursday night.
Goodwin is currently the joint top scorer in the A-League Men's alongside fellow Socceroo Jamie Maclaren, having scored five goals in his six starts this season.
Goodwin’s direct goal involvements of 0.85 per game mean he almost guarantees Adelaide a goal or assist every game, while he sits second on the table for direct goal involvements this campaign.
“I’m really happy with my form at club level with Adelaide and I’m looking to bring that form into camp,” Goodwin told Socceroos.com.au.
Goodwin's form signals a strong comeback from surgery on an ankle injury which agonisingly forced him out of Adelaide’s elimination final against Brisbane Roar last season, and for the five or so months that followed.
The setback also left him unavailable for the last six World Cup Qualifying matches for the Socceroos, but after playing just thirty minutes of Adelaide’s pre-season matches, he is stoked to have played himself back into camp.
“It was disappointing at the end of last season to be injured and to rule myself out for a while,” said Goodwin.
To come through that after the surgery and to be back in amongst it (the Socceroos squad) makes me happy with how I’ve gone.”
Goodwin has been called up for the Socceroos for the first time since November 2019 and is relishing being back amongst his teammates within the squad.
“I think it’s a really good group,” he said.
“Every time I’ve been in, with different players coming in and different players going out, it’s been a very tight-knit group and it’s very easy to come in here and get along with everyone.
“I think that helps us on the field.”
Meanwhile, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the green and gold, with head coach Graham Arnold contracting COVID-19 - Arnold is currently isolating and asymptomatic.
While Rene Meulensteen and Tony Vidmar are currently in charge of training and coaching, Arnold is watching online, which has presented different challenges for the staff and squad.
“It’s been going well - the training sessions with Rene have been good,”explained Goodwin.
“Obviously with Graham (Arnold) in quarantine at the moment we’ve been doing all interviews via video.
“It’s been a little bit interesting, a little bit different, but it’s business as usual.”
All current business points towards the crucial clash against Vietnam, where a sold-out Melbourne Rectangular stadium could watch the Socceroos move one step closer to the FIFA World Cup with a win over the Golden Star Warriors.
Goodwin enforced how the crowd could give Australia the edge, as the Green and Gold prepare to play their first game in Melbourne since September 2017.
“I think it’s going to be massive”, he said.
“Obviously with the importance of the two games, to have a full crowd will hopefully give us the edge.
We can't wait to play in front of that atmosphere and in front of a packed stadium again.”
The Socceroos will kick off at 8:10 pm AEDT against Vietnam on Thursday night.