Socceroo Nikita Rukavytsya scored his eighth goal of the 2017-18 season as Maccabi Haifa triumphed 3-0 away to Hapoel Ra’anana in the Israeli Premier League overnight.
Rukavytsya netted his side’s third goal in the win which moves them up to ninth spot on the table and ends a run of three straight defeats.
The 30-year-old forward is his club’s equal top scorer in the league for 2017-18 with five goals, along with eight goals in all competitions, already beating last season's tally of seven goals in all competitions.
The 16-time Socceroo was drafted back into the national team during the final phase of 2018 World Cup qualifying by ex-coach Ange Postecoglou.
Rukavytsya hadn’t represented Australia since the 3-0 friendly win over Canada in October 2013 before being called up for the World Cup play-offs against Syria.
The ex-Perth Glory man made three appearances in the play-offs against Syria and Honduras off the bench.
Rukavytsya is vying with the likes of Tim Cahill, Jamie Maclaren, Awer Mabil, Apostolos Giannou and Nathan Burns for a spot in the 2018 World Cup as a back-up forward option.
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