While playing for Newcastle Jets during the 2013/14 A-League season, Adam Taggart’s form was simply breathtaking.

The then 21-year-old had the world at his feet after being named the NAB Young Footballer of the Year and winning the Golden Boot for his 16 goals.

Taggart's performances saw him secure a spot in Australia’s 2014 World Cup squad and on the eve of the finals signed his first professional European contract with English Championship club Fulham.

But after playing against Holland and Spain in the finals, Taggart’s career in Europe was cruelled by injuries which limited him to just nine games in two seasons.

Returning to his hometown of Perth in 2016, the striker slowly put the pieces of his career back together by scoring 20 goals in 34 games over two seasons with Glory.

Now with Brisbane Roar ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, Taggart feels an injury-free season would be a big first step on the way to regaining a potential national team recall.

“They’ve obviously got a lot of players there and it’s always going to be so competitive,” he told FTBL.

“But for me personally, I have to just focus on being able to play a season injury-free and I think if I can do that, the rest will follow.”

With the Asian Cup in January, if Taggart can get on the scoresheet on a regular basis for Roar, he may get back on the radar of Socceroos coach Graham Arnold.

“If you have a good season and you bag some goals, before you know it, you might get an opportunity,” he said.

“But it’s about playing well consistently through a whole season and keep pushing in your own development in your own club.

“You can’t focus too much on the end product of being in the Socceroos squad and things like that.

“You just have to focus on working hard and doing well at your club and hopefully the rest will follow.”

Looking back at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Taggart revealed that fortnight still inspires his career today.

“That experience is something I learnt a lot from and it has definitely driven me,” he said.

“Before the game, you’re looking at some of the players who you idolised as a kid – like Fernando Torres .. and there he is lining up in the tunnel next you. Iit was just an unreal experience.

“The overall experience really drives me now to be a better player and a better person.

“It’s something I’ll never forget and something that I think about all the time.”