Last week, Perth Glory bound Vukovic told us of his burning desire to one day score a goal in the A-League.

He’d come close a weeks earlier when he hit the bar with a freak clearance, but that just fuelled his desire to go one better.

“It’s a dream of mine,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com. “Anyone who knows me knows I love to score goals.

"Maybe against North Queensland on Sunday if it’s all wrapped up and we get a penalty I might step up.”

And on Sunday step up he did with a confidently taken kick by the former junior striker in the final minutes of a 3-1 win over North Queensland Fury.

His joyous goal celebrations in front of the Yellow Fever reflected what it meant to him. It was a fairytale finish to the regular season for the 25-year-old who now has finals football to look forward to starting in Adelaide this Friday night.

With some stunning form (which has prompted coach Ricki Herbert to speak of him as a future Socceroo number one) it caps a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for the popular former Mariners and Olyroo keeper.

Vukovic described his last 12 months as being like a rollercoaster. First he left Central Coast Mariners barely six hours after getting the call to join Konyaspor in Turkey. Then last August, he was dumped by the Turks.

“Yes, a lot of ups and downs," he said. "Things aren’t going to go your way but it’s how you bounce back from them. I’m not going to lie it’s been very tough at times. Being in Turkey and told you were not wanted.”

Vukovic signed for Konyaspor but after two months of pre-season (“Two sessions a day in 36-degree heat with just running in the first session – I think I lost about 5kgs but felt fit and strong” he recalled) and with a glamour opening day fixture with champions Bursaspor, the Aussie was hauled into the manager’s office.

With the help of a translator, he was told the foreign player rule was such that the club had decided it needed an extra foreigner to boost their outfield stocks rather than in their keeping ranks.

It was a bitter blow and a dubious point given he’d already signed a contract. Though Vukovic says he understood the decision that didn’t in any way lessen his anger.

“The Turkish players weren’t up to a great standard compared to the foreigners in the outfield positions. It’s a long story," he said

"I’d signed a contract then I was told they were letting me go. It was tough because I didn’t know what I was going to do.

“I was livid. To travel all the way over there; to basically be on a plane six hours after getting the call to go over there. I left in a heartbeat after being told the deal was done.

"I left my house and sold all my furniture. It was crazy. All my family left me at the airport and all for nothing.”

With the majority of A-League squads already settled, things look bleak. However, with the help of au.fourfourtwo.com, things soon looked up.

Within minutes of the story breaking we reported it, and shortly after Phoenix were dialing Vukovic’s number in Turkey.

“I got the phone call while in Konya from Phoenix and they said they were interested," revealed Vukovic. "They threw me a lifeline as Reece Crowther at the time was injured.

“Within an hour of my story being on FourFourTwo, I got a phone call [from Phoenix].”

The move to New Zealand has been a success. Vukovic has helped the club climb into the six and now has finals football to look forward to before leaving for Perth Glory and a well-deserved three-year deal.

But at 25 Vukovic is still not at his prime and could be back in Europe when he's older.

“People have asked me since do I regret doing it [transferring to Konyaspor] and I think I would’ve regretted more not doing it and wondering if I hadn’t gone," he said.

“But I definitely want to give it another go and get over there.”

He settled well in Wellington – a club with an excellent reputation, on and off the field. “It reminds me a little of Melbourne. It’s a cool little city,” he said of the New Zealand capital.

“You see a lot of weird and wonderful people about the place. It’s been good for me, it’s been an eye-opener. I’ve usually lived in the suburbs which is a bit more slower pace rather than the city.

“It’s a good club and the thing is, I walked into the dressing room on my first day and knew I was going to enjoy myself. There was a great vibe. You can tell the team unity is up there. I’d spoken to Dura [skipper Andrew Durante] and he only had good things to say about the club.

“Not only are the boys close but the girlfriends are close too – there’s a family vibe. And great people within the club with World Cup coach Ricki Herbert and [owner] Terry Serepisos.”