It was his performances for the Socceroos - albeit largely at youth level - that almost made Josh Brillante's career. 

Many fans will remember his sensational strikes for the Young Socceroos in 2013, which in addition to his coming-of-age performances for Newcastle Jets, resulted in the young midfielder jetting off to one of Italy's biggest clubs.

Heartbreakingly for Brillante, it was not to be.

Although he can always look back to the two appearances he made for the Serie A giants, Fiorentina and a brief loan spell to Empoli was too much, too soon for the Socceroo.

Flash forward four years and Brillante's back in Socceroos contention, named in Bert van Marwijk's extended 29-man squad to face Norway and Colombia.

With his pedigree and an A-League Championship, Premiership and FFA Cup victory behind him, "it's an exciting time" to be Josh Brillante.

"It's an exciting time (with) the World Cup not far away," Brillante said.

"It's a big occasion and obviously it would be great to be involved with that as well.

"It goes to show if you keep working, keep believing and wanting to achieve, it can come back around."

His dynamic holding-mdifield role for Sydney FC this season may have rocketed him into the national team spotlight, but Brillante knows there's still work to be done to break into a very-strong Socceroos midfield. 

To secure a spot on the plane to Russia, he'll have to prove he can not only potentially support the likes of Aaron Mooy and Mile Jedinak in a pivoting midfield role, but provide a better-or-equal back-up than other hopefuls Jackson Irvine and Massimo Luongo.

While it may appear a bridge-too-far for the Aussie now, he's just taking it one game at a time.

"It's always in the back of your head but it's not something you're thinking about week-to-week," he said.

"It's more about performances at club level and playing well. Off the back of that these things follow."