To see the three in Sydney kits...

“I don't know how much of the pre-season I'll see at all. I mean, we got our schedule for the Olyroos the other day and it looks very hectic,” Bridge told au.fourfourtwo.com after Sydney unveiled him and their other major signings Simon Colosimo and John Aloisi.

“If you want to be in contention for a medal you have to prepare like that. I don't think Kossie will mind because he knows I'll be staying fit with the Olyroos and he knows Arnie too.”

Two years ago, Bridge was a peripheral figure under Richard “Dickie Dosh” Money at Newcastle. “That's the life of a footballer. One minute you can be down the bottom, next up the top," says Bridge.

But a chat with current Olyroo coach Graham Arnold was the turning point. “He sat me down and told me to pull my finger out!" he explains.

"He's taken me under his wing and whenever I've needed a kick up the butt he's been there to do that. And now it's a matter of not letting him down.”

The only cloud on the horizon is Bridge's hamstring strain which kept him out of the Mexico game in San Francisco. But nothing can take his excitement away.

“I'm very excited. I won the grand final on the weekend and now I've signed for probably the biggest club in the A-League. So, life's pretty good for me.”

To see the three in Sydney kits...