The Blackburn Rovers man netted two cool finishes in the 3-1 win over Qatar after being deployed in a more advanced role than his usual right-back slot.

The goals came at important times in the match with Australia booking their place in the final stage of qualifying.

He told Football Federation Australia's official website: "I think we scored the goals at important times in the game and that allowed us to pretty much control it."

Emerton joked that a mishit by Harry Kewell in the build up to the goal had been deliberate.

He said: "Harry dummied it expertly for me. He told me to say that.

“It was easy enough, if I had missed that opportunity I would have kicked myself and lucky enough it ended up in the back of the net.

“For the second goal, Brett Holman played a great little ball over the top; I got a good first touch and I finished it off."

Emerton will now wait and see whether Pim Verbeek keeps him in the more attacking role or reverts him to right-back. The defender said: "I enjoy it; I’ve made no secret of that in the past. I enjoyed the opportunity to play there and who knows in the future I might get to do it again?"