Coyne is a recent addition to the Socceroo squad, only getting his first cap this year at the age of 29, despite only playing at League One level in the UK.

But he's quickly become a regular - although he concedes his globetrotting marathon trips have had an adverse affect on his captain's role at new club Colchester United.

"Playing for Australia has been a bit of a hindrance for me this season, there's no doubt about that, in terms of club football,” Coyne told the East Anglian Daily Times.

“I seem to play one game, and then go away for an international. I come back and I'm not in the side, but it's a good situation to have four good centre-halves at the club. There's four of us going for just two spots.

“All the travelling and the flying does not affect me that much, because I'm used to it. We are lucky enough to be flown business-class, so you effectively get a bed.

“Coming back from Australia last week, I managed to get 12 hours sleep, so I haven't suffered much from jet-lag.

“It's an exciting time for me to play for Australia. It's something that I have always wanted to do, ever since I represented Australia under-17s as a 15-year-old."

He added: “I didn't get on in the last World Cup Qualifier against Qatar.

"I had played in the previous four games, but Craig Moore came out of international retirement and the manager (Pim Verbeek) chose him instead.

“You might think that it's a long way to go, to sit on the bench, but I was still representing my country, which is always a great honour."

Now Coyne is determined to make himself available for the two upcoming matches for the Socceroos as well, despite the cost at domestic level.

“We have another match away in Bahrain in a few weeks time (November 19), and then a game against Japan in Tokyo," he said.

"I'm hoping to be involved in both these matches, after which there's a three-month break.

“There's a real buzz back home in Australia, following the last World Cup. And we all have big aspirations to 2010. We want to qualify again,”