How is life in Scotland treating you?
Yeah, it is good. I am settled in now – I have a house and a car, so I am getting around alright. The club has been very supportive and on the pitch we are winning games, so it has been a good start.

You have had to bide your time at Rangers – what is it like being the new player trying to break into a winning team?
I haven’t had too many experiences like that. I was at Brisbane Roar for six years and before that I was settled in the NSL. It was a new challenge, but the boys here were great. It has been difficult to break into the side as we have been doing so well. That is one of the pitfalls of coming into a team when the season has already started.

2011 – a year you played in the Asian Cup final, won the double with Brisbane and moved to a massive European club – how do you look back on the last 12 months?
The Asian Cup feels so long ago now! Even the A-League Grand Final was back in March, but it has been an incredible year for both Aussie football and the Roar. Being part of that success at the Roar was amazing. As for the move to Rangers, that was something I needed. I felt like I needed a new challenge and that is exactly what I have got over here. This is a massive club and I want to win titles – I got the taste for that at the Roar and I want to continue that.

You have become a Socceroo regular this year – how assured do you feel heading into camp these days?
I feel great when I head into camp and I know all of the boys now. We are talking about experienced players who I can still learn off each time I play with them. I’m 28, but I still have a lot to learn. I’m learning new things over in Scotland and each time I head into the Socceroos camp. That is the most important thing – trying to further my development and making sure I am enjoying my football. That is exactly what has been happening so far.

We have seen you in a few different playing positions for the Socceroos of late – where are you happiest?
I’m a versatile player. Being left-footed I play anywhere on the left and I did that for the Roar too. My favourite position is still playing centrally, but I have been at left-back – not a position I ever thought I would play – but I feel like I have adapted and been playing well there. I have actually really enjoyed playing in the different positions as it is always a challenge to play in a different position. 

Why do you think all this success has come some ten years after you first started your playing career? Why have you been such a late bloomer?
I don’t know about late bloomer, I have been around quite a while and played consistently throughout my time in the A-League. I guess when Ange [Postecoglou] came in to coach the Roar he gave me a lot of freedom and the style of football really suited me. With the national team, Holger has come in and given every player a lot of confidence too. 

You have become a poster boy for giving A-League players a Socceroos chance...
The A-League is no mug of a competition. I spent six years there and every year it developed into another level. I have been watching this season too and seem some great performances. The Roar are doing well too, which is even better! To see myself and Robbie [Kruse] come out of the A-League and into the national team is great. I’m sure others will benefit from that in the future.

Brazil 2014 might become your first World Cup, did you expect to be in contention for a future World Cup starting team spot a couple of years ago?
No chance! It is weird. Everyone on the cusp of national selection or in the squad now is looking towards 2014. We have taken our first step by getting out of the first phase. We are now really looking forward to the next qualification phase so we can make the World Cup, as it is every player’s dream.

Anyone you would like to avoid in the next stage of qualification?
The main powerhouses are Japan and South Korea, then you have some strong Middle Eastern teams. Teams like Uzbekistan – even though we beat them at the semi-final of the Asian Cup convincingly, they are a good side.  

You had two loan spells at Asian clubs, played in the Asian Cup, are qualifying for a World Cup through Asia now – how adapted to the Asian game do you feel?
The whole team is more adapted to playing in Asia. We understand a lot of the Asian players’ style of play and we have got used to the travel too. Most of the Asian teams are fairly mobile and very much footballing sides rather then being too physical. 

Have you felt any additional importance being placed on your club career knowing that playing well for your club could result in playing in a World Cup?
Of course, you know you need to be playing well at club level to play for your national team. I just want to establish myself now and get some games under my belt.  

This article appeared in the January 2012 issue of Australian FourFourTwo magazine. To buy back copies of this issue call 03-8317-8121 with a credit card to hand.

The current edition of Australian FourFourTwo has just gone on sale in newsagent across the country, or you can subscribe here