Jamie Maclaren reveals how a Bert van Marwijk pep talk inspired his World Cup selection

AUSTRALIA’S luckiest World Cup squad member Jamie Maclaren has revealed the pep talk he received from Socceroos boss Bert van Marwijk that helped him secure his ticket to Russia.

ON a whim, Jamie Maclaren took a pair of boots with him on holiday - now those boots have had far more of a workout than his beach gear.

Still taking in his change of fortune, from World Cup omission to securing a place in the Australian squad for Russia, Maclaren revealed the pep talk he had received from Socceroos boss Bert van Marwijk that helped him secure that place.

Maclaren said he is close to full fitness, after rushing from his poolside in Dubai to join the Socceroos’ pre-World Cup camp as injury cover initially.

Jamie Maclaren is all smiles after booking his ticket to Russia. Picture: Toby Zerna

In a week the 24-year-old persuaded van Marwijk that his original omission should be reversed, and Maclaren said that processed had been helped by their initial conversation.

“He pulled me aside in a warm up the first day and he said, “This is your opportunity’,” Maclaren said. “He goes, ‘Forget about what’s happened in the last few weeks, I know you’ll be a bit disappointed. In terms of fitness and stuff like that, you haven’t been able to come in as fresh as you’ve wanted but now you’ve got six days to really push your case.’

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“I think in a few days he did see that I’m a different player to what we’ve got in the squad. He was honest, and as a player you want a coach to be honest, you don’t want him to say something and then go and do something else.”

Now Maclaren’s sights are set forward, buoyed by five goals in his last five games on loan at Hibernian in Scotland - including a hat-trick against Rangers on the last day of the season.

“I’ve had a good six months, I want to continue that,” he said. “My confidence is sky high in front of goal. I always know that if I have a coach that believes in me, that automatically comes through my system and I want to go out there and play well and score goals.

Jamie Maclaren impressed on his return to the squad. Picture: Toby Zerna

“I had that with (Hibernian manager) Neil Lennon and I got that feeling off Bert last week because he does see something in me and that as a player gives me instant confidence.”

Any game time at the World Cup would help Maclaren clarify his club future, keen to move on from German side SV Darmstadt 98 after his loan spell at Hibernian expired, but that has all gone to the back of his mind.

“From January onwards it’s just been trying to get to the World Cup,” he said. “Everyone can see it’s been a bit of whirlwind and it has been, mentally for me.

“Now I’m here everything that’s happened in the past six months is put behind me. Now it’s just about showing Bert what I can bring to the squad. Now my fitness is up there and I’m ready to compete.”

Originally published as Jamie Maclaren reveals how a Bert van Marwijk pep talk inspired his World Cup selection