Having played an important role in the Socceroos’ successful bid to qualify for this year’s FIFA World Cup, Melbourne Victory star Nishan Velupillay is desperate not to miss out on being selected for the June-July spectacle.
Velupillay’s only five Socceroos appearances were all on the qualifying road to the upcoming World Cup, with the 24-year-old attacking weapon scoring three goals to help Australia’s cause.
However, Velupillay’s most recent Socceroos appearance was more than a year ago when he found the back of the net in Australia’s 2-0 win over China in Hangzhou.
He subsequently wasn’t selected for four successive international windows, often because of injuries.
Despite some patchy form for Victory this season, Velupillay’s contribution during the qualifiers wasn’t forgotten by Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, who recalled him for the current FIFA Series.
However, he watched the entirety of Australia’s 1-0 win over Cameroon in Sydney last Friday from the bench.
It has left Velupillay eager to remind Popovic of what he can do when the Socceroos meet Curacao at Melbourne’s AAMI Park on Tuesday night.
“It’s a privilege to be here but also to impact the game and impact the outcome of qualifying is really special,” he said on Monday.
“Hopefully, I can keep doing the same – I’m ready for every opportunity.
“This game (against Curacao) is another to put your best foot forward, The training in camp has been very high, and the level has been very good.
“Every play is eager to prove themselves, and we’ve got to help each other on the pitch. Everyone will be vying to get out there.
“It’s a game for everyone to prove themselves going into the World Cup.”
Velupillay said he had “missed” the Socceroos environment.
“I feel like you always get an extra boost of confidence when you come in here,” he said.
“I’m happy to be here. We got a good result on Friday, and hopefully we can do the same (against Curacao).”
Velupillay is one of four Melbourne-born players in the Socceroos squad, while another seven have links with Victoria’s capital city by having played for either Melbourne City or Melbourne Victory.
“You know how important football is in Melbourne, and hopefully a lot of fans can come out and make the atmosphere really good, and send us off to the World Cup,” he said.
“There are five or six of us that will get to play in front family and friends, so for a lot of boys it’s been a long time for them.”
