The Sydney FC right back has toughed out a long road back from an ACL injury but looks close to his best after just three games into the new A-League season.

And with the Asian Cup a few months away, and a couple of international friendlies later just around the corner, Grant could be hitting peak form at the right time

Former Socceroo John Kosmina is just the latest to say the 27-year-old must be close to a national team call-up by his one-time Sydney FC boss, Graham Arnold.

Kosmina told Fox Sports that Grant was “was outstanding, and the best right back in the competition” before he was sidelined by injury.

“It’s been a tough road back and he looked a bit rusty in the first game against Adelaide two weeks ago,” Kosmina said.

“But if you look at the progress he’s made now just playing games regularly, he’s got better as time’s gone on.

“His timing’s much better, his distribution is good – but he makes runs inside as a fullback as well which is a nightmare for whoever’s trying to pick him off. One minute he’s inside the next minute he’s outside.

“You look at the ball he played for Danny De Silva for the third goal – the weight on it, the timing of it – it just looked so natural. He’s in good nick."

Kosmina added: “Look, Graham Arnold knows him well – don’t be surprised if he’s wearing a green and gold shirt soon.”

Sydney playing their third game in six days, and 72 hours after losing the FFA Cup Final, made easy work of City with an emphatic 3-0 win at AAMI Park thanks to an opener from Paulo Retre and a brace to Adam Le Fondre.

Former youth international Grant, known for powering up and down the park, admitted his “legs started to go late in the game”.

“It’s been a tough week, but the boys showed up tonight,” he told Fox Sports. “It was tough but we came away with the win.”

There was no change in the Starting XI, and with Sydney carrying a couple of injuries, it meant a full shift for veterans Alex Brosque, Milos Ninkovic and Alex Wilkinson.

But Grant said there was no concern about the “old-timers” seeing out the game.

“They know how to look after themselves,” he said. “And as you can see tonight they put on a show. I think Ninko’s unlucky not to get the Man of the Match to be fair, he’s just a different class.

“Him and Brosquey know how to look after themselves – same as Wilko – they did what they had to do and played the 90 tonight.”

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Grant's retro hairstyle has won him as much attention as his football this season, with some Sydney fans in the crowd donning mullet wigs for the clash. Meanwhile opposition supporters were perhaps hoping insults hurled down from the stands would put the nuggetty fullback off his game. No chance.

The Sky Blues stalwart seems at one with the look and even ‘fessed up to “blow-drying” his hair before the game.

“I gave it a crack and it made it sit pretty well,” he said. “I copped a bit of stick from the crowd as per usual, but it’s sticking around.

“I’m keeping it for the season so I think everyone’s going to have to get used to it otherwise they’re going to have to repeat the same old jokes every week.”

Anyway you cut it, Grant has earned his moment in the spotlight said former City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen: “When you play like that you can have any hairstyle you like.”