Socceroos revelation Kye Rowles ready to test himself in Scottish Premiership with Hearts

Scotland-bound Socceroo Kye Rowles believes his hopes of staying in Australia’s best 11 will be enhanced by his move to Hearts.

Socceroos defender Kye Rowles has vowed to make the most of his move to Scottish club Hearts after his stunning rise at international level.

The 23-year-old centre-back will be extremely hard to dislodge from Australia’s starting team at the World Cup after his commanding performances in the Socceroos’ successful playoff campaign.

Uncapped before heading to Qatar for this month’s playoffs, Rowles showed maturity beyond his years alongside the experienced Bailey Wright in the heart of the Socceroos’ defence to help Australia qualify for a fifth successive World Cup.

“It still hasn’t sunk in,” Rowles said.

“The last two weeks from my debut to (Australia’s 5-4 penalty shootout win over Peru) have just been hectic and crazy – it’s overwhelming emotions.

“With the group of boys we had in this camp, it’s just been amazing and they’ve helped so much for us younger boys with lesser experience to become more comfortable and confident in ourselves.

“Hopefully I’m still in the mix with the Socceroos (at the World Cup).”

Kye Rowles (left) celebrates with Socceroos teammate Jackson Irvine. Picture: Mohamed Farag / Getty Images

Competition for the two central defensive roles in Australia’s team is expected to be fierce at the World Cup.

The previous first-choice pairing of Trent Sainsbury and Harry Souttar – should they be fit – will put pressure on Wright and Rowles.

Towering Stoke City defender Souttar is expected to be fully recovered from his knee reconstruction by the World Cup, and will pose the biggest threat to the Wright-Rowles combination.

Sainsbury recovered from his own knee injury to be named among the substitutes for Australia’s playoff against Peru, but he no longer can be considered a selection certainty, even when fully fit.

Rowles, who has left Central Coast Mariners to join Hearts, expects his game to improve in the Scottish Premiership.

“I’m going over there for a new challenge; I’m excited for a new chapter,” he said.

“It’s a good league, with great exposure as well. It’s a massive club that I’m joining, so I’m just honoured and I’m going to take the opportunity with both hands.

“I’m just going to keep my head down and play the best football I can.”

Rowles will join Socceroos teammate Nathaniel Atkinson and another Australian, midfielder Cameron Devlin, at the Edinburgh club.

Meanwhile, former Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic has been linked with a move to Indonesian club Persija Jakarta.

Star playmaker Rogic, who was a key factor in Celtic’s achievement of regaining the Scottish title under former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, withdrew from Australia’s World Cup playoffs squad for personal reasons.

Originally published as Socceroos revelation Kye Rowles ready to test himself in Scottish Premiership with Hearts