The defender’s Norwegian club SK Brann did not release him for the recent Ghana friendly and it deprived him of the chance to show the Socceroos coach what he is capable of.

That match gave other players the opportunity to shine and Thwaite found himself missing from the squad list for the Iraq game in Brisbane and now the return game in Dubai.

To rub salt into the wounds, he has had it pointed out to him just how big a chance he had missed out on by the very man he was anxious to impress.

Thwaite told the Cairns Post: “The Ghana match was a really good chance for the fringe players to state their case. He (Verbeek) rang me just before I came back here (to Cairns) and said, ‘That was a really big opportunity for you’.

“Basically he said that we’ve already got 30 players in Australia so why should he take me?

"He’s a bit ruthless but I said to him I’ll put my head down, keep working hard, play more regularly and put myself in his window.”

Thwaite said all his efforts would now go into forcing his way into a regular starting slot at SK Brann and ensuring he remained on Verbeek’s radar.

He said: “At the moment I’m coming off the bench (for SK Brann) and I’ve played in about five of the 11 matches this season.

"Personally I’m a bit disappointed in that but in the overall picture it’s too early to start panicking.

“They bought me in January from my old club in Poland and I think they have good intentions developing me as a defender.

“Football can take a turn so quickly. I’ve just got to keep my head up, listen to what he (Verbeek) says and wants. There are a lot of competing players in my position, so I’ve got to respect what he says and keep working.”