Socceroos defender Cameron Burgess’ maiden English Premier League appearance ends in defeat

A Socceroos defender’s patience has been rewarded with an English Premier League debut, but the result wasn’t what he wanted.

Socceroos defender Cameron Burgess has made his English Premier League debut, but his Ipswich Town team remains without a win in its top-flight return.

Burgess, who scored an own goal in Australia’s 1-1 draw with Japan in Saitama last Tuesday, was finally given a Premier League opportunity in Ipswich’s weekend clash with Everton.

However, the Tractor Boys were beaten 2-0 at home and are still searching for a victory eight games into the season after earning promotion from the English Championship.

Burgess’ teammate and fellow Australian Massimo Luongo didn’t play as he remained sidelined with an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, Socceroos winger Martin Boyle returned from a wrist injury in his Scottish Premiership club Hibernian’s 3-2 loss to Dundee United.

After undergoing surgery on the injury, Boyle wasn’t chosen by recently appointed Socceroos coach Tony Popovic’s squad for this month’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Cameron Burgess (left) and his Ipswich teammate Leif Davis thank fans for their support after a 2-0 loss to Everton. Picture: Stephen Pond/Getty Images

However, Boyle’s weekend recall should have him in consideration for a return to the national squad for next month’s games against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Another winger hoping for a Socceroos recall, Awer Mabil, scored for Swiss club Grasshoppers after coming on as a substitute in his team’s 2-1 loss to FC Zurich.

Also finding the back of the net was Cardiff City midfielder Alex Robertson, who was “ineligible” for Socceroos selection this month due to an issue with FIFA paperwork.

Robertson – who can also represent England, Scotland and Peru internationally and is not yet tied to Australia despite having played in two friendly internationals for the Socceroos – scored the first goal in Cardiff’s 5-0 English Championship thrashing of Plymouth Argyle.

Elsewhere, midfielder Aiden O’Neill, who missed the Socceroos’ draw with Japan through illness after playing in the previous week’s 3-1 win over China, returned to action for his Belgian club Standard Liege in a 2-1 win over Sporting Charleroi on Monday morning (AEDT).