New Socceroo Luke Brattan is relishing linking with his former A-League mentor at Brisbane Roar FC Ange Postecoglou as the midfielder eyes a potential debut for the national team in Perth on Thursday night.
After a spate of injuries to key Socceroos, the Brisbane Roar star was a late call-up to the squad.
Postecoglou makes changes to Socceroo squad
The Socceroos play Bangladesh on Thursday night at nib Stadium then head to Dushanbe to take on Tajikistan on Tuesday night in 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifiers™.
It is the first time Brattan has received a call-up to the national side, with the 25-year-old keen to test himself at international level.
“[I’m] very excited, it was a late call up. I just can’t wait to start training with the boys and work under Ange again,” Brattan told FFA TV in Perth.
“The football they [the Socceroos] play is very attractive. The way they went in the World Cup was great as well.
“I think they surprised a lot of people but that’s the way Ange coaches. He demands the best and I’m looking forward to it," said Brattan, who impressed Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers after Roar's July friendly against the Reds at Suncorp Stadium.
Brattan holds fond memories of playing at Perth’s nib Stadium. It’s where he made his Hyundai A-League debut under Postecoglou at the end of 2009.
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The English-born midfielder was a late substitute in a 1-1 result against Perth Glory, with the former Rochedale Rovers junior revealing he had little time to impress his new boss.
Brattan, who has spent the last seven seasons at Brisbane Roar, went on to hail the influence Postecoglou has had on his career, which looks to be headed in a new direction.
“I was at the club when he first came and my contract was a bit up in the air,” said the midfielder.
“He said you’ve got a week to prove yourself and then he agreed on the contract I was offered by Frank [Farina] and from then on he’s just been a massive part of my career.
“I learnt a lot in the three years he was there and obviously we were very successful.”
The former Young Socceroo warned that the Asian Cup champions cannot afford to be complacent against the 170th ranked Bangladesh on Thursday night.
“You don’t really know too much about them so that’s always dangerous. They could come out and surprise a lot of people,” he said.
“We can’t go into the game thinking it’s going to be easy cause that’s when it could backfire."
Socceroo Match Details
Australia v Bangladesh
3 September 2015
nib Stadium, Perth
7pm (AWT) kick off (9pm AEST)
Tajikistan v Australia
8 September 2015
Republican Central Stadium, Dushanbe
6pm kick off (10pm AEST)
