Jason Davidson sets sights on playing at another World Cup following his recall to Socceroos squad

Jason Davidson’s standout season with Melbourne Victory has him close his first Socceroos appearance since 2015.

Having played a key role in Melbourne Victory’s A-League resurgence, Jason Davidson’s next job is helping the Socceroos qualify for this year’s World Cup.

After seven years in the international wilderness. Davidson been named in Australia’s squad for the upcoming World Cup playoffs in Qatar.

The Socceroos must win sudden-death matches against the United Arab Emirates (June 8 AEST) and Peru (June 14 AEST) to reach the November-December World Cup, also in Qatar.

Davidson represented Australia at the 2014 World Cup and was part of the Socceroos team that won the 2015 Asian Cup.

But it has been next to nothing in a national jersey for the left-back ever since, with the most recent of his 22 caps coming in November 2015.

“You cherish every cap – it’s been more than a couple of years now,” 30-year-old Davidson said in reflecting on his time on the selection outer.

“Once you’ve represented your country, you always want to do it again.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to be here. I’m here to do a job and that’s to come in, and help the team qualify for the World Cup.”

In camp 👀

🇦🇺 v 🇯🇴 - International Friendly
Al Janoub Stadium, Doha, Qatar
2.6.22, 4am AEST

🇦🇪 v 🇦🇺
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Doha, Qatar
8.6.22, 4am AEST

📺: @10FootballAU, @ParamountPlusAU#AllForTheSocceroospic.twitter.com/LIXm64Dp8Q

— Socceroos (@Socceroos) May 30, 2022

Davidson also had the “job” of turning around the fortunes of Melbourne Victory after joining them last year from South Korean outfit Ulsan Hyundai.

The once mighty Victory had just finished with the A-League wooden spoon, with Davidson brought to the club as part of the Tony Popovic revolution.

And while the Victory missed out on the championship in Davidson’s first season at the club, they finished second on the ladder and won the FFA Cup.

“National team (selection) is a reward of how you do at club level,” said Davidson, who made his Socceroos debut as a 21-year-old in August 2012 against Scotland.

“I was part of a rebuild at the Victory, and as a Melbourne boy, there was a lot of responsibility to come back to Melbourne to try to get them back to where they belong.

“Now I have that same kind of responsibility with the national team to come back and get the job done.

“It’s not going to be easy but nothing in life comes easy and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

The Socceroos will warm-up for their do-or-die battle with UAE with a friendly match against Jordan on Thursday morning (AEST).

“The boys are hungry to prove some people wrong, and to make sure we get Australia to another World Cup,” Davidson said.

Originally published as Jason Davidson sets sights on playing at another World Cup following his recall to Socceroos squad