Nathan Burns took a big step on Monday towards earning his eighth international cap with the Socceroos, but the Bathurst ’75-Western graduate knows he still has plenty of hard work ahead of him.
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The Blayney native was one of 46 players named in Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou’s preliminary Asian Cup squad, but that will be trimmed to 23 players by December 30.
Given all 23 members of the Socceroos 2014 FIFA World Cup squad were named in that 46, Burns needs to continue his strong form in the domestic A-League competition if he is to make a return to the green and gold.
Still, Postecoglou has thus far lived up to his word that he will strongly consider A-League players who are in good touch and Burns certainly fulfils that requirement.
He has scored eight goals in nine appearances for Wellington Phoenix and four of those have come in his last two outings.
“I am hoping [I make the Asian Cup]. Ange said that he was going to take A-League players that are in form,” Burns said earlier this year.
“My focus is not to get too far ahead, stay healthy and to stay fit.”
There are other factors that weigh in Burns’ favour as well.
Unlike four other members of the squad, Burns has represented Australia before and played in the Asian Cup.
A member of the Australian under 17s, under 20s and under 23s sides as he rose through the ranks, Burns made his debut for the Socceroos with a brief appearance in the 3-0 win over Singapore in 2007.
He also took part in three Asian Cup games in 2011, selected in that squad after showing good touch for Greek Super League Club AEK Athens.
The other thing that will help Burns is the brand of football he plays for Wellington.
“Being a winger or a striker whatever, I think I can adapt to how Ange wants to play, but in reality there is not much difference between the style of the Socceroos and Wellington,” Burns told The World Game.
“Ange and Ernie [Merrick, Phoenix coach] both prefer to play an attacking game and if I can get into the [final] squad I’d like to think that I could be an attacking threat. But of course the Asian Cup is completely different to the A-League.”
With Burns one of 16 A-League players named in the squad, it reflects Postecoglou’s desire to broaden the base of players to strengthen the Socceroos as they strive to rise to the challenge of facing Asia’s best nations on home soil from January 9.
“I’m happy with the depth of squad we have been able to name and it is now up to these 46 guys to ensure they are selected in the final squad for the Asian Cup and rise to the challenge ahead,” Postecoglou said.
“We have set about trying to broaden the depth of players and I’m happy with how that has transpired over the last five matches since the World Cup. We have a good group of players to choose from for what will be an exciting time for Australian football.”
