Gulum, 23, today announced he had pledged his future to the Turkish national team after receiving a call-up from Crescent Stars boss Guus Hiddink for the upcoming friendly with Netherlands.

The left-sided defender, who has been a regular for Istanbul giants Besiktas in the past few weeks, has Turkish parentage but grew up in Australia.

Gulum played his junior football for Victorian Premier League club North Coburg United (now Hume City) before leaving Melbourne as an 18-year-old to play football in Europe.

And Gulum, who has been playing in Turkey for the past four seasons including a stand-out campaign last term with second tier Adanaspor which prompted his move to Besiktas, has decided to answer Hiddink's call revealing a lack of contact from Australia lay behind his decision.

"The Turkish national team has been watching me closely for the previous two-and-a-half years," he said in a written statement released by his Australian representatives."They have been constantly contacting me and the people around me.

"Disappointingly, until last week, I have not heard from the Australian authorities for the past two-and-a-half years.

"For me it has been a case of being overlooked at all levels in the past for Australia, for whatever the reason has been. Especially with the Olyroos, when I was told I will not get picked to represent Australia because I play overseas and not the A-League.

"I have been patiently waiting for some form of recognition. The first bit of contact came last week after the Turkish national team had called me for a possible call-up.

"I respect newly-appointed national team coach Holger Osieck's decision to overlook me for the upcoming friendly against Egypt, as he has no idea of who I am and has never watched me play live.

"My frustration lay with the previous coaches who showed me no interest, when a decision would have been much easier for me to make."

Gulum added: "I have, and always will have a close allegiance with Australia. I love the country.

"My family heritage is of Turkish descent, and I am as Turkish as I am Australian. I walk the streets of Istanbul feeling right at home as I did in the back streets of Meadow Heights.

"It is the birth place of my parents, who also currently live in Turkey. People would have differing views about my decision to play for Turkey, and I can assure everyone that it wasn't an easy one.

"Now that a decision has been made, all I want to do is concentrate on my own football firstly at club level, and if I am lucky enough to get the chance, at National level.

"I want to help my team win the Turkish Super Lig, and go as far as we can in the Europa League.

"I have to fulfil the faith my coach Bernd Schuster and the Besiktas board has shown in me, and ensure I secure a long term deal with the club as well as represent Turkey in a new era of Turkish Football under coach Guus Hiddink.

"I hope all concerned will respect me for the decision that I have had to make, based on my current position in Turkey."

He added: "I have been in Turkey for a number of years and have been developing my football credentials within the Turkish system.

"I have finally been given the opportunity to play at a club as big as Besiktas JK.

"I must stress that I am only at the start of the road. Playing 6 games for one of the biggest clubs in Turkey, is just the beginning of a dream that was handed to me.

"I want this dream to last for a few years to come, and I understand it requires a lot of hard work."