The Sydney FC goalkeeper received the good news of his call up ahead of training and admits it came as a surprise.

You couldn’t accuse him of waiting anxiously for the phone call in the build up to the squad announcement for the Melbourne clash on September 11.

Bolton, who last tasted Socceroo action against Kuwait, said: "To be fair, I’d heard about the Argentina game but I didn’t know when it was or anything like that. That shows you where my focus was.

“It was a surprise, not even in my line of thinking at the moment."

He added: "I guess it doesn’t matter how you get there it’s what you do when you’re in camp and, if I get the chance against Argentina, how I perform there. I’m raring to go.”

Getting called into the squad is the good news. The bad news for Bolton is that established number one Mark Schwarzer is also in the party to face Argentina.

Not that Bolton is disheartened by that and addresses the issue with a wry smile.

On being told that the Middlesbrough custodian is in the squad, Bolton said: “Benchy! No, I’m happy to be part of it.

"I’ve always sat on the bench for Schwarzy. That’s alright mate, I don’t mind. He’s a good keeper playing well overseas, so honestly, what have I got to complain about?”

But whether in the starting eleven or warming the bench, Bolton is just thrilled to be part of a Socceroos scene with a real buzz about it.

Gone are the days when an international game caused little interest for a large chunk of the Australian public.

Bolton said: “It’s a different feeling now being in the Socceroo camp.

"Previously there was hardly any exposure of the national team but now we’re getting warm wishes, good luck messages on the street, everyone knows you and we’re getting packed stadiums. It’s fantastic.”

While international duty is something to look forward to, the goalkeeper’s immediate focus is Saturday’s Hyundai A-League meeting with Adelaide United at Sydney Football Stadium.

It is an opportunity to banish the sour taste of the defeat inflicted by Central Coast Mariners in round one.

Bolton, who held his hands up to an error that led to the only goal of that game, said: “Every time you lose, it’s disappointing. But I think just the way we finished really strong was encouraging.

“It’s just a few tweaks here and there, finishing, stop letting in soft goals, that sort of thing, and we’ll be fine.”

As for visitors Adelaide, Bolton admits he has paid little attention to the opposition.

“I have not seen them play and I don’t even know who’s playing for them," he said.

"That’s no disrespect to them but I just don’t even follow the other teams. I’m just worried about what we do here.

“I’m confident in any game. We’ve a good quality team. There’s nothing to fear. A few tweaks and I think we’ll be one of the dominant forces in the league.

“I made a mistake on the weekend. In your younger days you always dwelled on a mistake, now it’s just a matter of getting on with it.”