Jamie strikes out for permanency

It’s like starting all over again for Jamie Maclaren.

Jamie Maclaren training with the Socceroos at the World Cup. Picture: Toby Zerna

It’s like starting all over again for Jamie Maclaren as he looks finally to get some permanency around his Socceroos career.

Having played under Ange Postecoglou, who gave him his debut, and then caretaker Bert van Marwijk, the talented 25-year-old striker knocked hard on the door of the national team without quite getting the vote of confidence from the coaches.

Despite some good form while playing with SV Darmstadt 98 in the German second division and scoring goals for Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League, Maclaren has managed just six appearances for the Socceroos since getting his first chance in 2016.

He was a late inclusion in the World Cup squad for Russia but did not get a single minute of football as Australia bowed out at the group stage without a win in three matches.

Now with Graham Arnold in charge and with Tim Cahill having retired from the international stage, Maclaren knows the time has come to be the heir apparent to our greatest Socceroo.

That chance comes this week as the Socceroos assemble for the first time under Arnold’s watchful eye during a six-day training camp in Turkey.

“It is good to be involved in any camp, but this one is going to be significant,” Maclaren said. “You want to go in and make an impression because that first ­impression is always a key.

“I have come in with a lot of confidence, having already got on the scoresheet (for Hibs) this season, which is important for a striker … you want to start getting goals early in the season.

“Now I need to show Arnie what I can do.”

As Sydney FC boss, Arnold coached against him in the A-League and has spoken glowingly about the striker since taking on the Socceroos role at the end of July.

“Just talking to Jamie Maclaren over the phone, you can tell that kid really believes in himself,” Arnold said recently.

Maclaren should be part of the squad for the friendlies against South Korea in Brisbane and Lebanon in Sydney in November.

He is looking forward to the chance to return to Suncorp Stadium, where he made his mark playing for Brisbane Roar.

“I enjoyed my time at Brisbane and always got a buzz playing at Suncorp, but it will be a different feeling going back there as a ­Socceroo,” he said.

Maclaren is determined to be part of the defence of the Asian Cup in January.

“I was involved in the Confederations Cup and the World Cup and you get goose bumps whether you are playing or sitting on the bench,” he said. “We are going into the Asian Cup as champions and there will be pressure because the other countries will be looking to knock us down.”