Mile Jedinak appears certain to return to the Socceroos frame for the first time in five months after a much-needed run-out with English club Aston Villa.
And how timely the return of the Socceroos skipper will be.
Australia faces Honduras in a home-and-away intercontinental World Cup play-off in the next fortnight, with the victor gaining a place at the 2018 tournament.
When coach Ange Postecoglou names his 23-man squad on Tuesday, Jedinak – who managed half an hour against Championship cross-town rivals Birmingham City – will be a very welcome addition.
Given Mark Milligan and Mathew Leckie’s suspension-forced absence from the away leg, Jedinak will be ushered back into the fold in a much-needed leadership boost.
Jedinak has battled a groin injury through 2017.
He missed June’s Confederations Cup and key World Cup qualifiers since then, and made just his second appearance at club level this year on Sunday.
But Jedinak didn’t look like a player with just a half of football under his belt this season when he was thrown into the Birmingham derby.
He competed strongly in the air and helped settle his side, which was struggling to contain their local rivals.
The Birmingham Mail gave a positive review of Jedinak’s half-hour of action, saying the 33-year-old “helped see out the game and tighten Villa up when they were wobbling”.
The frenzied atmosphere could also offer Jedinak a preview of what’s to come in the away leg against Honduras.
Villa players were targeted by the partisan crowd, which threw objects including, dangerously, at least one coin onto the pitch.
Elsewhere, several other Socceroos impressed on their last opportunity to impress Postecoglou before the play-off squad announcement.
Aziz Behich scored a stunning left-footed volley from outside the box in Bursaspor’s 4-0 win over Antalyaspor in Turkey’s Super Lig.
Massimo Luongo was influential, providing an assist as his side QPR beat Championship leaders Wolves 2-1.
Aaron Mooy managed another 90 minutes but returned to earth with a 3-0 humbling by Liverpool, a week after his goal helped Huddersfield defeat Manchester United.
Key defender Trent Sainsbury played a full match and kept a clean sheet for Chinese club Jiangsu Suning.
Mat Ryan, Tom Rogic, Milos Degenek, Bailey Wright, Awer Mabil, Jimmy Jeggo, Ryan McGowan and Danny Vukovic managed 90 minutes at club level over the weekend.
Tomi Juric, Alex Gersbach and Jackson Irvine made substitute appearances, while Matthew Jurman and Jamie Maclaren were unused.
Apostolos Giannou, who was not named in the initial 30-man squad, scored a late brace for Guangzhou R&F – his first goals of the Chinese Super League season – to defeat Tianjin Teda 3-2.
Mark
Guest
I think Jedinak is a useful player in the right system, but Ange’s system exposes his lack of pace and average ability on the ball. If we concede early in Honduras, it could get ugly, and I don’t think we have the attacking quality to recover.
Alessandro Vari
Roar Pro
Remind us of all the wonderful talent we have at our disposal? If we don't qualify we don't qualify, the world doesn't end.
Caltex Ten & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
I am starting to believe that too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zmifg0JLXDo in a pressure cook atmosphere, we need some real steel and leadership in the starting XI. Mile, can provide this in the first leg.
At work
Roar Rookie
Well said. I believe Mile is exactly what we need for that away match, to provide some stability at the back which we have sorely missed all to often of late. Get away with a draw and then come home and win 3-1. Job done and on to Russia
Fadida
Guest
His leadership is unquestioned, his ability questionable. Spot kicks aside he adds nothing to the side, unless we are playing QPR for a place at the WC
Fadida
Guest
Remind me where we finished in our qualifying group, the only measure of success?
Nemesis
Guest
And we'll give them a hiding when they come here. The furtherest they've travelled is to California. About the same distance as Perth Glory flying to Brisbane for an away match. That away match Honduras got smacked 6-0 by USA so they don't like the long travel. But, if we fail over 2 legs, it means we're not good enough. We don't cry about it. We pick ourselves up & start again for Qatar 2022. That's the way we get better. But, I've full faith in Ange & the lads to get the job done.
Mark
Guest
The danger signs of a thrashing in Honduras are certainly there, and if we get hammered everyone will be saying they saw it coming.
jamesb
Guest
bobbym I really think its 50/50. It all comes down to the first leg in Honduras.
Lionheart
Guest
oh but Ange must go, haven't you heard, poor record and all?
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The Honduran side on paper is lower in quality that many of the Asian opponents we've faced. If we can get a draw or even a one goal loss where we score and away goal then we are in the box seat come the second leg. Quioto and the young player Elis, both with Houston Dynamo, appear to be their primary outlets for goals. One thing about our Asian opponents is they are much more attuned to long distance travel and playing far outside their comfort zones; less so for the CONCACAF sides. The wierd one is their coach, Pinto. He has to be one of the most travelled coaches I have ever laid eyes upon however did lead Costa Rica to the quaterfinals in 2014. Still, it is football and anything can happen.
Kangajets
Guest
I watched the villa game . Jedinak was ok , but he will playing against far better more skilful opponents then Birmingham City . Jedinak would be better from the bench
Nemesis
Guest
Last 10 WCQs for AUS? W4 D5 L1 Only loss away to Japan Last 10 competitive matches for AUS? W4 D4 L2 Only losses: to World Champions Germany & Away to Japan Sounds ok to me.
bobbym
Guest
It doesn't matter we are not going to make the world cup this time around look at the past 10 games results the trend is there.