With the World Cup now less than three months away, pressure is on our Aussies Abroad to perform for their club sides if they're to be selected for Brazil.
With the World Cup now less than three months away, pressure is on our Aussies Abroad to perform for their club sides if they're to be selected for Brazil.
Striker Mathew Leckie continues to push his credentials as one to lead the line for the Socceroos, netting another match winner for his club side FSV Frankfurt this weekend. The 23-year-old scored the solitary goal of the game for the second week in a row, this time against FC Ingolstadt, getting on the scoresheet just shy of the half hour mark.
The goal brings his season tally to eight goals and sees his side move to ninth in the second tier of the German Bundesliga. Leckie was formerly on loan with FSV but after impressing during his two seasons there the move was made permanent for this campaign.
Leckie-s sole international goal from his six appearances in the green and gold to date came against Canada. The former Adelaide United player will no doubt be hoping to add to this tally in Brazil and his partnership with Tim Cahill up front for the national team showed some promising signs against Ecuador.
Brad Smith continues to play well for Liverpool-s U/21 side and came up against compatriot Hyuga Tanner when they hosted Blackburn this weekend. Smith made his senior Reds debut late last year but is yet to feature in a national team squad. It still unclear where his international allegiances lie, with the 19-year-old left back also eligible for England.
Defender Curtis Good missed Dundee United-s home loss in Scotland as he recovers from a hip flexor injury picked up on international duty. Meanwhile Jackson Irvine was ineligible to play against his parent club Celtic when Kilmarnock hosted the league leaders.
New Socceroos all-time leading goal scorer Cahill played a full match for New York Red Bulls in their 1-1 draw with Colorado Rapids, with the hosts recording their first point of the 2014 MLS season.
Former Brisbane Roar and Tianjin Teda midfielder Erik Paartalu played another full game for his new Thai Premier League side Muangthong United, who have now moved top of the table following their 1-1 draw at home to Police United.
In Japan, Josh Kennedy-s second goal of the campaign helped Nagoya Grampus to a 1-0 win over Kashiwa Reysol following his strike in the 66th minute. Meanwhile, former Mariners boss Graham Arnold recorded his first point of the J.League season with Vegalta Sendai sharing the spoils in a 0-0 draw with Gamba Osaka. On-loan Glory gloveman Danny Vukovic was on the bench for Arnold-s side.