National team hopeful Shane Stefanutto has dispelled the myth about any shortage of left-sided talent for the Socceroos, saying it’s a position in which Australia is doing all right.

Considering Stefanutto is battling three others for a spot in Pim Verbeek’s team to play Qatar in Wednesday night’s World Cup qualifier, it would appear there is no longer a dearth of left-sided defence-minded Socceroos.

During last year’s failed Asian Cup campaign, the Socceroos had so little to work with down the left that attacker David Carney was converted into a left-sided wingback.

But with veteran Scott Chipperfield recovered from injury, Carney looking far comfortable in his new role, the unearthing of Adelaide United’s Scott Jamieson and the return to the fold of Norway-based Queenslander Stefanutto, the Socceroos’ left-sided stocks are rising.

“Everyone keeps talking about a lack of left-sided players - I totally disagree with that,” Stefanutto said.

“I think the left-sided players we’ve got are very good and they’re high quality. There’s pressure.”

Stefanutto, 28, has plied his trade in Norway for the past five years since leaving Australia after a successful career with former NSL club Brisbane Strikers.

He made his international debut last year against China but dropped out of the reckoning before a call-up to Verbeek’s squad for the Qatar match at Suncorp Stadium.

While the always reliable Chipperfield is the undisputed No.1, Stefanutto believes there is room for him to squeeze in around the Swiss-based left-back - especially if Verbeek is looking for a second left-sided option in his 11.

“For me he’s (Chipperfield) someone I try and emulate in terms of the standard I have to set. I know I have to be up there if I am competing with him,” Stefanutto said.

“He may not have nailed it but he is No.1. That’s the way I look at it.

“I think maybe the No.2 is a little open and it’s probably who proves themselves the best.”

Admitting his heart remains in Brisbane, Stefanutto admits with two new Queensland teams joining the Roar in next season’s A-League that he wonders whether he should have signed a new deal with Norwegian side Lyn Oslo, which will keep him there for another two years.

“I’m a bit disappointed to have signed three years last year,” he said.

“There’s a bit of excitement now with these new teams coming in and they’re all from Queensland and I’m a Queenslander and everyone keeps asking me ‘when are you coming back?’

“I’m kind of like: ‘I wish I was coming back tomorrow kind of thing’.

“But I also have to think, if Pim keeps selecting me, the 2010 World Cup and it’s got to be a goal of mine. Maybe my best opportunity is to stay where I am in in Europe.”

Free Email updates:

• Get a daily Football email

Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...

© 2007 AAP