The 27-year-old Socceroo enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last season in helping the rampaging Royals return back into the Premiership.

Federici was awarded the Precision Golden Gloves Award for best keeper in the Championship after a stunning 20 clean sheets in 47 games.

The powerful Australian was also awarded February’s Championship Player of the Month with five clean sheets.

And stats reveal that throughout the season, Federici saved almost 80% of shots fired at him.

Brian McDermott’s Royals conceded just 41 goals on their way to the Championship title, pipping Southampton in second by a point.  

It’s been a highly successful season but the Aussie isn’t taking anything for granted as he eyes a new EPL season kicking off against Stoke City on the opening day.

 “I left home when I was young and it took three or four years to establish myself, and a further few years to establish myself as the number one at Reading and get a reputation.

“No-one gave me that reputation. I had to work hard to achieve it,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

When he first arrived in England aged 17, Federici slept on couches of fellow players. It was a million miles from the glamorous image of English football.

Floating around England trialling and trying to break in, he barely made an income. And there was pressure to come home but he stuck it out.

“The fact was; nobody gave me an opportunity to play. I said to myself, ‘Right, if somebody gives me a real opportunity to play, in a real game, in front of lots of people in a real stadium and I can’t do it, then I’d say fair enough.

“But no-one actually gave me that opportunity. Everyone said I was good enough but there were always circumstances, money or whatever.”

Finally he got his chance at Reading under Steve Coppell. And he’s still with the club seven years (and a few loan spells) later.

“It’s not as easy as some make it out to be. I didn’t get spotted when I was young and go into a big club straight away and have millions [of pounds] thrown at me,” Federici said.  

“It was definitely the complete opposite to that. I had to float around for years before I got an opportunity. I didn’t get paid till I was 22 or so.

He debuted against Burnley in the Cup and two games later was playing at Old Trafford and got player of the round in the FA Cup.

“It’s definitely helped my character,” he added of his tough years.

“Especially for a goalkeeper, mental strength is one of the biggest things you need – especially playing in England and playing in the Premiership. I got that the hard way.”

A back injury sustained in training prior to the Socceroos recent friendly with Denmark prevented Federici from taking part in the squad for June’s World Cup qualifiers.

As a result, he spent almost six weeks recuperating and resting in Jervis Bay, “outside the football bubble”.

But in a sign of things to come, Federici has done more media in recent days than ever before with interviews on Fox Sports and the World Game.

Federici, who has already played a couple of games in the EPL when Reading were last in the elite, also will appear in a special EPL return issue of FourFourTwo magazine out in August.

It’s an issue where all EPL teams are previewed with added EPL Aussies features.

A fit-again Federici returned to England last Saturday and is set to be part of Reading’s pre-season tour of Portugal in late July.

He is also poised to have a busy season with the Royals as they look to retain their place in the EPL - but it could also be the making of the current Socceroo number two.

Based on his form and age, who knows which clubs might come knocking for him as they look to pick up a keeper moving into his prime?

“I’m getting my rewards now. I’ve never felt so strong and confident in myself,” added Federici.

 “I’m very, very ambitious. I’m really looking forward to the next five years.”