"I got approached not long ago to play for the Lebanese national team with the offer of American dollars tax free and an apartment," he told SEN radio's The Four Diegos football show on Tuesday night.

"But I was born and raised in Australia and Australia has done a lot for me and my family. So the only way I can repay them is if I put on the green and gold and go out there and give my all."

Elrich, 21, has represented Australia at schoolboy, U/20 and U/23 level and is considered one of the most improved A-League players over the last year.

Lebanon has attracted a small number of Australian players with Lebanese heritage. One such name is Buddy Farah.

Under the name Badawi Farah, he became a superstar at Lebanese club Nejmeh and at national team level after moving from NSL club Wollongong in 2003.

After failing to make the Olyroos of 2000, and with the NSL struggling badly, he took up the club and country offer and, from all accounts, it was a successful move.

Farah also scored the only goal for Lebanon in a 2004 Asian Cup qualifier against North Korea in Pyongyang in 2003 - silencing a 95,000 crowd in the process.

Michael Reda, a skilful midfielder formerly of Parramatta Eagles and Wollongong, was also lured by Lebanon some years earlier. The country is currently ranked 147 by FIFA and 16 in the AFC.

"Even if I don't play for the Socceroos, which hasn't even happened, I won't play for Lebanon," added Elrich.

"I'm an Australian and I'd never take on board an offer from Lebanon. I love my parents' home country but at the end of the day I'm Australian and I owe Australia."

Meanwhile, Elrich's brother – Central Coast midfielder Ahmad – underwent surgery yesterday after serious damage to his right knee's anterior cruciate ligament was revealed following the recent A-League match with Queensland Roar at Suncorp.

The 27-year-old Socceroo is set to spend the remainder of the A-League season on the sidelines and his younger brother was almost as devastated as the player himself.

"I was gutted. When he got on the team bus in Queensland and he told me I almost teared up myself. When I spoke to him he said, 'mate these things happen'.

"He is my brother, my idol and I love having him as a brother and he's a good mate."

However, Elrich junior is feeling a little more buoyant about the Jets after four points from the last six.

"Two clean sheets in two weeks, I'm not complaining and I don't think Gary Van Egmond is either," he said.