Mat Leckie hopeful of a good start to the A-League season to boost his chances of returning to the Socceroos squad

He has been missing from the past couple of Socceroos squads, but one of Australia’s best players remains hopeful of being recalled to the national team.

Mathew Leckie hopes to regain a place in the Socceroos squad next month. Picture: Nicolas Tucat/ AFP

Melbourne City star Mathew Leckie hasn’t given up hope of a Socceroos recall, but says he must start the A-League season well to force his way into the plans of recently appointed national coach Tony Popovic.

The Popovic era started in a positive manner on Thursday night, with Australia beating China 3-1 at Adelaide Oval.

Leckie, 33, wasn’t included in Popovic’s squad for the current international window, and also wasn’t selected last month by then Socceroos coach Graham Arnold for Australia’s 1-0 loss to Bahrain and 0-0 draw with Indonesia.

The versatile attacker’s cause hasn’t been helped by the A-League season not starting until next week.

“Of course I’d love to be there now (in the Socceroos squad),” Leckie said.

“I always love going to the national team and playing for Australia, but this time of the year is always difficult for A-League players, and also especially for me.

“I haven’t always really been able to get too many games under my belt.”

Melbourne City star Mathew Leckie is ready for the new A-League season. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Which is why the first few weeks of the A-League season will be crucial to Leckie’s hopes of being selected in Australia’s squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

“What I’m focusing on most at the moment is just starting the season off, playing well, playing consistent games, (and) getting some consistent minutes – then it’s up to the coach,” the 2022 World Cup hero said.

“There’s been a change there, and `Popa’ will have his ideas. If I’m in them, great. I’ll just try to do my thing on the field for City to give myself every opportunity of being picked again (for the Socceroos).”

Leckie was fully understanding of Arnold’s decision last month to stand down as national coach after six years in charge.

“He made it pretty clear that he had probably been thinking about it for a while, and if he thought he wasn’t not the right man to do it anymore, that’s completely understandable,” Leckie said.

“For him to say that he should walk away, it wouldn’t have been easy to do, but he’s done it for himself and for the national team as well.”

Melbourne City starts its new A-League campaign on Saturday week against the Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium, with Leckie intent on helping his club regain its status as a title contender after just scraping into the top six last season and being knocked out in the first week of the finals.

“If you start the season slowly, you feel like you’re just playing catch-up and that definitely was the feeling last season,” he said.

“Hopefully we can start well, and build from there.”