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Socceroos forward Jamie Maclaren has given his World Cup hopes a huge shot in the arm after bagging a hat-trick in Hibernian’s frantic 5-5 draw with Rangers.
The former Brisbane Roar striker has been included in Bert van Marwijk’s 32-man preliminary squad for Russia, which will be reduced to 23 on June 3.
However, he was far from certain of a place on the plane and is yet to meet van Marwijk after being snubbed for the friendlies against Norway and Colombia in March.
But the 24-year-old has timed his run to perfection and will arrive in Turkey next Saturday for a three-week pre-World Cup camp full of confidence.
He now has a genuine chance of making the cut next month after finishing his loan spell in Edinburgh with a respectable six goals in 11 games.
Rangers looked like they were set to be blown away as Florian Kamberi, Scott Allan and Maclaren put the Hibs 3-0 up after a 22-minute blitz at Easter Road.
But the Glasgow side mounted a stunning fightback with strikes from James Tavernier, Jordan Rossiter, Bruno Alves, Jason Holt and Josh Windass.
However, another Maclaren goal sent Gers’ nerves jangling and they were then reduced to 10 men when Holt was sent off.
And the man on loan from German side SV Darmstadt sent the home fans into delirium when he prodded the ball home in the 93rd minute to seal the draw.
The goal also prompted a huge celebration from Hibs manager Aaron Lennon, who’d been taunted for the whole match by the away fans due to his Celtic connections, and was sent off from the dug-out by the referee.
Elsewhere, in the EPL on Sunday, Aaron Mooy and Mat Ryan both ended their successful debut seasons in the English top flight with defeat.
Ryan’s Brighton lost 4-0 to a rampant Liverpool side at Anfield and Huddersfield, who Mooy helped to remain in the EPL in midweek, lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal.
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