Irvine scored three goals in three games for new English Championship club Burton Albion prior to linking up with the Australia camp for this week’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

The 23-year-old midfielder managed only six goals for Scottish Premier League clubs Ross County and Kilmarnock across three seasons, prior to his prolific run at Burton.

The Melbourne-born talent was a 78th minute substitute for Massimo Luongo in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Iraq and had a special message from Postecoglou.

“The boss said to me when I came on ‘be positive, play forward, get forward and try to score another goal’,” Irvine told FourFourTwo.

“That’s what I tried to do.”

Postecoglou afforded Irvine a similar attacking freedom to which he’s gained at Burton under club boss Nigel Clough.

“I’m sort of playing more advanced (at club level),” Irvine said.

“It’s more of a licence to break into the box when the ball goes wide, rather than playing as an attacking midfielder.

“I am finding myself in more advanced positions which I’m enjoying.

“Obviously it’s nice to reward that freedom with the goals I’ve been scoring.”

Irvine’s newly promoted club are midtable in the Championship after five games, collecting seven points from their past three games after losing their opening two.

“It’s been a great start club wise,” Irvine said.

“We got off to a bit of a rough start results wise, with a couple of early defeats but the performances were always promising.

“We’ve put together three good results in a row going into the international break and I’ve been lucky enough to chip in with three goals.”