After being out of football for more than year with an ACL injury, Grant stunning comeback culminated in the 27-year-old making his Socceroos debut in Tim Cahill’s farewell match.

The rightback’s A-League form was initially rewarded with a place in the Socceroos squad as a train on player and then afterimage impressing in camp, he was promoted to a starting spot against Lebanon.

With January’s Asian Cup now just weeks away, Grant admitted he had measured his run well for a spot in the Socceroos squad.

“It’s pretty good timing to make your debut just before a big tournament," he said.

"I suppose it’s still just over a month till that starts so you’ve got to back to club footy and still play at a high level and prove that you deserve to be here so I’ll try my best to do that.”

Grant revealed he felt a surge of emotion when Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold told him he would be making his national team debut.

"I found out on the morning of the game when Arnie told the boys,” he said.

"He said, 'It’s just another game, it’s your debut for your country and just enjoy it as much as you can.' So I took it on board and I tried to do that.

"At the time my stomach dropped but I came to terms with it pretty quickly and got on with it.

"To get in around the squad and make my debut for the Socceroos is pretty freakish and something I’m pretty proud of.

"I’m pretty happy and pretty excited to get it out of the way. It was pretty nerve racking at the time and once I was out there and running around and kicking the ball, it felt pretty good.”

Before his injury, Grant was in the mix for Socceroos selection for the 2018 World Cup and Arnold revealed that the Sydney FC star could be pushing for the right back position.

“That's what we expect – we expect competition for places,” Arnold said. “Ange Postecoglou picked Rhyan in a previous Socceroos squad. He didn’t play in that camp but Ange noticed his performances like I did.

"He gives you that energy up and down. He’s come back from an ACL injury very well and he had a special night.”