How Hrustic channelled Socceroos staff's 'energy' to star on starting debut

Chris Curulli 1629843707,1629860166

"René (Meulensteen) goes to me, 'You're going to tuck one in'… I was laughing and he's like, 'No, I'm being serious!'."

After Ajdin Hrustic slammed home his first international goal with a stunning free-kick, he naturally pointed straight over towards the bench - at the coaching staff who predicted he would do exactly that.

The Socceroos' first fixture in 18 months, turned out to be a coming-of-age performance for the Eintracht Frankfurt man in a Green and Gold shirt.

After a couple of promising cameos during the first half of qualifying in 2019 - including a hat-trick of assists off the bench against Chinese Taipei - Hrustic was determined to hit the ground running at international level in June.

And on his first start for the national team, the 25-year-old did exactly that; looking untouchable in the number 10 role, winning a penalty in the first half before curling home a second-half set-piece.

"Straight away I looked over to the bench," Hrustic told Socceroos.com.au. "Arnie and Rene told me I would score a free-kick."

"I've obviously been practicing on it for a while, even back home at my club, and at the beginning of camp, I went out after sessions with Rene.

"We did five set pieces on the right side, five on the left, and I was hitting them quite well.

And he goes to me, 'if you get one in the first game, you're going to tuck one in.' I was laughing, and he's like, 'no, I'm being serious'- and that ended up going quite well."

Coming back into camp after a season of firsts in the Bundesliga with Frankfurt - including his maiden Bundesliga goal just weeks before June's action - set up Hrustic perfectly to make a lasting impression in a Socceroos shirt.

He further solidified his reputation as a set-piece specialist: something the Melbourne-born midfielder has been focused on developing for years.

"When it goes in, then you think back of your head 'I've worked for this'," he reflected.

"It takes effort and it's not something that just comes from out of nowhere. You invest time in it and it becomes a quality."

While his June heroics may have been fuelled by Meulensteen - a former Manchester United coach - Hrustic's long-term inspiration was in fact a certain Red Devils legend.

"The set piece thing all started with David Beckham," he explains. "I used to look up to him quite a lot."

I used to copy him with a number seven shirt, with the hairstyles - I've had two ponies, I've had one pony, even a headband so I've done a lot. But when he shaved his head bald, I just went not happening anymore!

"When I was young, I used to try to take set pieces like him - even the way you run-up to the ball, set the ball up and all that.

"I used to start back home in the backyard and aim for windows, I had my mom running after me!

"But it started back home when I was 10-12, and it just became a hobby that I used to do after school. Obviously I played football but set pieces were something extra for me."

WATCH: Ajdin Hrustic's highlights on Socceroos starting debut

And using the positive energy of camp and the national team coaching staff unit, Hrustic feels well poised to continue his progress in September and beyond.

"If a coach, or the whole staff are behind you, it's an extra 50%," he said.

"Just like what the fans can bring, so can staff members and even the players to be honest. Since coming into camp, I felt great - it had been such a long time, but like Arnie always says, we're like a family and it just feels like you haven't seen each other for a few weeks.

"I worked hard and I'm happy that I did get my first start. The energy that Arnie gives me, Renee and the whole staff, I try to pay it back in the best way possible.

"It was only my fourth appearance for Australia - I hope there will be many more, and I can score, assist, or help the team in any kind of way.