Jackson Irvine relishing challenge against England's world class midfield, discusses National Team ambitions

Jackson Irvine is looking forward to the test that awaits himself and the Subway Socceroos ahead of the friendly clash with England at a capacity crowd at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 5:45am (AEDT).

The 30-year-old discussed his role in the team as one of the more experienced players, while speaking positively about the younger members in the squad and the development of the team ahead of another FIFA World Cup cycle and imminent AFC Asian Cup.

Irvine shared his past encounters with Jude Bellingham and facing former teammates in Jarrod Bowen and Fikayo Tomori when the trio were together at Hull City all those years ago.

Read some of the best bits below or watch in the player above!

Looking forward to Wembley

It's an exciting week for everybody. So I'm looking forward to since the game was announced. It's another big step for us on the path we're on and other top opposition and a great opportunity for us to test ourselves against world class opponents. Of course a special venue, especially for the ones of us who have played in the UK, it's not somewhere you get the opportunity to play very often, if ever, so we'll be looking to embrace it wholeheartedly, and put in a good display.

Remembering the famous 2003 win at Upton Park

it was a big moment, kind of the development of where that team was heading towards 2006. You know, that was probably a big stepping stone on that pathway. I think even though it was a friendly it's a memorable, memorable result in Australian football history. So yeah, I remember it well.

Inspired to make a statement

I think every time we play together, it's an opportunity to make a statement and create special moments and special memories. That's why you play international football is what you dream about as a kid to play on the big stage and create those kinds of memories, whether it's in a friendly or in a major competition, every opportunity, every game presents that opportunity.

Role within the team as a senior figure

It's probably more reward for the kind of path and progress I've made throughout my own career, but my position within this team now is very different. Whereas as a senior player, you got to be that kind of stone, that can hold the team together in ways amongst the players with with less international experience. I'm as much as anyone I'm a football romantic and playing at Wembley against England is a huge moment for myself. But in the context of where we are as a group as a team, it's probably a different role for me to take on on Friday night (local time).

Capable of competing against any nation

We've got players at different stages of their careers at the moment, players who have had, as I say, different paths and playing in different leagues at different levels. Obviously, the development of the game in the last 20 years has been quite dramatic. Across world football, not just where we are (England). And as you can say, of course, we had in 2006 we had players playing in Premier League playing at the highest level, but you know, we didn't have that in Qatar yet, you know, we performed equally as well. So of course international football is an interesting dynamic now, I think we're seeing it's less important where players play the domestic football and it's more about the dynamic of the team. And I think we've shown again against Mexico in recent weeks that we're capable of competing at this level, despite not having players that maybe play a Premier League level.

Ambitions at club level

I'm ambitious as I've ever been in my career, in the 2. Bundesliga, we've had a fantastic start, undefeated so far this season. My ambition is purely to get St.Pauli into the Bundesliga and compete in a top five league. It's incredibly exciting league, the football is fantastic. I love it. I love the culture. I love the football culture, everything about it. You know, not to say anything about the future but anyone who's followed my path knows that I found a home kind of in Germany at the moment and my sole focus in domestic football is trying to get a special club to the highest level.

Next step for the National Team

The end goal of this process is to get to another World Cup for us, the immediate target is obviously about the Asian Cup coming up in January. Our major Confederation tournament, and we want to win it, we want to be competitive and be at the top end of that tournament, that's got to be our goal. And, of course, automatic qualification, the last two World Cup cycles, we've gone through the playoff drama, which we would very much hope to avoid this time around. So a successful Asian Cup campaign and automatic qualification is definitely the kind of realistic targets of this team. And then as we continue to develop, of course, you want to build on that success. It's not enough to want to say okay, we've got out of the group four years ago, you know, that's enough for us we want to continue to progress.

Fitness after the ankle injury against Mexico

Obviously I picked up that ankle injury over in Dallas and you know, kind of had a really quick recovery and came straight back into the team on Saturday and you know, I've played a lot of football over the last months and everything so yeah, just just precautionary and keeping myself ready to go at maximum for Friday.

Facing a world class midfield

The individual quality at international level is always immense. And we know the players we know what they're capable of and when we come up against this calibre of player, it all kind of goes to the background, you know, that every team at this level is capable of hurting you with that. But it's all got to be about structure and playing as a unit and that, as I said that team dynamic that we bring. That's got to be our focus and obviously you want to nullify their threats, but for us we got to focus on our performance and put in the best display we can.

Massimo Luongo's return

One of our most talented player absolutely. Just even from a personal level, he's an old mate of mine and to have him back here is huge, he brings a wealth of experience, he's played more games than most of the players here, even though he's been absent for a few years. And seeing his kind of resurgence into Championship level where he's more than capable of playing at and showing that he's one of the better midfielders at that level. It's hugely important to us and delighted to see him back and can't wait to see him in a Socceroos jersey that's for sure.

Connor Metcalfe's growth and importance at club and international level

I don't need to probably say how highly I rate Connor and what a teammate and player that he is. He's been a huge part since we've kind of had the change of manager and the success we've had since January. He's played a huge role in that. He's had to be a bit more versatile in his role within the team as well. But as I say he's a top teammates, he's got such great quality. I thought he did really well against Mexico again, in kind of a newer role for him. In terms of the way he's been playing recently, but we've seen with a couple of goals he scored this month, the quality he possesses in the final third as well as all his other attributes. But he's a fantastic young player, he's been a huge part of why we've been successful over the last nine months at St. Pauli and just even more excited to see how he keeps growing as a Socceroo.

Jude Bellingham and his quality

It's just been incredible to watch, it's funny, I've played against him in the Championship when he was at Birmingham and I played against him in the Pokal in Germany with St. Pauli a couple of years ago. And to see now player of that age making that mark at that level, there's nothing left to say everything's been said. Everyone can see the results of of what he's got and what he's brought and the way he carries himself and he's arguably the best player in the world at the moment in a lot of ways and it's going to be another exciting test to come up against a player of that calibre who's in the form that he is in.

First time facing Bellingham and coming up against former teammates Jarrod Bowen and Fikayo Tomori

I remember the first time I played against him in the championship and I don't even know if he was 16. Yet I think he was like 15 and 10 or 11 months or something like that for something else when he just doesn't doesn't make sense. It doesn't compute in your brain that a player can play like that at that age, and his growth and development is just the whole world's watched him. And he seems to have taken it all in his stride. And that's a testament to his character as well. And now doing it on the biggest stage at the biggest club in the world. So it's going to be exciting to come up against him as a player. There's numerous players that you crossed paths with over the years before like Jarrod Bowen and Fikayo Tomori. I've played with them at Hull City as well.

Australia and England sporting rivalry

It crosses into other sports and probably more so in other sports than our own but you know we'll be looking to bring a little bit of that fire. That kind of exists between two proud sporting nations on Friday night. So yeah, got to bring a little bit of that substance that comes from from that rivalry and use it to motivate yourself on Friday.

Facing All Whites with the New Zealand and Australia Soccer Ashes Trophy at stake

There's something at stake which always gives things a little bit more of an edge. Of course another exciting young team with some really good players when we played them a year or two ago, when we played them in Australia. (They) caused a lot of problems as well a good side, they've got some really talented players and obviously a centre forward that's playing here in the Premier League at the highest level. So will be another tough test and a chance for us to, as you say, win something but continue on the path that we're on. So obviously one step at a time, but it's a great window for us to be here and be a part of two exciting games.

Upcoming matches

England v Australia - International Friendly
Friday, 13 October
Wembley Stadium, London UK
Kick-off: 7.45pm local / 5.45am AEDT (Saturday, 14 October)

Australia v New Zealand - International Friendly
Tuesday, 17 October     
Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford, London UK     
Kick-off: 7.45pm local / 5.45am AEDT (Wednesday, 18 October)  
Tickets: Purchase Here

The upcoming Subway Socceroos matches will be broadcast live and exclusive on 10, 10 Play and Paramount+.
As always check your local guides.