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Mooy has been a revelation in the centre of the park for the A-League new boys and the veteran goalkeeper says the former Bolton player was a stand-out from the first day of training.

The 22-year-old will slot back into the squad just in time for the Sydney derby at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night where the Wanderers will seek to avenge the round three loss to their cross town rivals.

And veteran goalkeeper Covic left no doubt the Red and Black were anticipating a big game from their newly-capped Socceroo.

“It was fantastic for him to be in the Socceroos now and he played a couple of games and scored a couple of goals – so it’s only going to boost his confidence,” he said.

“I saw the kid the first day of training and knew straight away this guy was going to be a very good player for the future of Australian football.

“I think he’s a fantastic player and I saw that in the very first week of training and getting selected in the (Socceroos) squad always gives you a lift.

“Hopefully he comes back in the squad with the same amount of confidence if not more – he’s an important player for us.”

Wanderers head into the derby sitting fourth on the ladder but only three points above last-placed Sydney, also on a high after picking up a rare win away to Wellington Phoenix on the weekend.

Tony Popovic’s men have built their campaign on a strong defence, having conceded just eight goals, but the failure to score has become a growing irritant for fans.

Last weekend against Brisbane Roar some of those supporters took out that frustration on Croatian import Dino Kresinger booing his arrival on the park – something Covic found “disrespectful”.

But the burly striker earned a penalty which Shinji Ono duly converted giving the home side the win and pushing them back up the ladder.

Covic defended Kresinger saying every member of the squad gave 100 per cent. No one more so that the goal keeper himself, who at 37 still has ambitions to lift some silverware.

Having tasted success with PAOK in the Greek Football Cup (2001) and winning the championship with Newcastle Jets in 2008 the former Melbourne Victory gloveman is as motivated as ever – maybe more so.

“I love the game and I’ve got more passion now for it because it’s coming towards the end of my career and I really want to make the most of it,” he said.

“It’s exciting for me to come back to Sydney, starting with a whole new club a whole new set up it’s something that a lot of people don’t get to do.

“At the moment I think I’m still going upwards in term of form and my career – how many years that’s going to take me I don’t exactly know but there’s definitely without question a few more years left in me.”

But is there enough time to lift the toilet seat again?

“I’d love to win another championship, without question,” he said. “Two trophies I’ve won in 17 years as a professional – they’re hard to come across.

“I’d love to win another championship, finish first, add another grand final, and to possibly do it with Western Sydney would be a fantastic achievement.”

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