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Tom Rogic doesn’t really do tap-ins.
Having been busy firing in screamers for Scottish Premier League club Celtic, the 23-year-old is earning plaudits in the national team set-up as one of Australia’s most bewitching young goal threats.
After scoring a classy brace off the bench against Tajikistan last week, Rogic showed his panache from the start in Tuesday night’s 5-1 demolition of Jordan.
The 23-year-old added a second-half goal to the Socceroos’ collection, nipping in a superb close-range finish via a cheeky cut-back.
He probably could have had a hat-trick after his fine half-volley forced Jordan gloveman Amer Shafi into an excellent reflex save, and made the custodian sweat again minutes later with a dramatic long-range strike that flew just high.
A humble Rogic felt it was the 90 minutes he needed.
“It’s been good to score,” the Canberra product said.
“In my position in the team it’s important to contribute in that way, so hopefully it will continue.
“I was maybe a little bit unlucky not to score another one or two.
“The `keeper made a couple of good saves, but it’s a part of my game that I’m working on and hopefully I’ll be able to contribute more in the future.”
Goals aside, Rogic’s ball control was far superior to that of his Jordan opponents, an attribute that has cemented the former Central Coast Mariner as a key player at Celtic this season with eight goals and five assists in 31 appearances.
That his club and national career are finally coming together at the same time is fitting reward after two injury-cruelled seasons forced him to miss the 2014 World Cup and Australia’s Asian Cup triumph last year.
“I’m feeling good at the moment,” Rogic said.
“I had my difficult spell, but things are going well and I’m not getting carried away.
“It’s been a good season for me at my club and obviously at the national team it’s been positive as well.
“But I feel as though I have more to give and improve on, and hopefully if I keep working hard that will be the case.”
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