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Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic has been hailed as the benchmark of Australian football by Socceroos manger Ange Postecoglou.
Rogic scored a stunning solo winning goal in last Saturday’s Scottish Cup final victory over Aberdeen as Brendan Rodgers’ ‘invincibles’ clinched a historic treble.
But there is no rest for the 24-year-old after he was named in his country’s final 23-man squad for Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia, a glamour friendly against Brazil and the Confederations Cup clashes with Germany, Cameroon and Chile.
Former St Mirren loanee Aaron Mooy will also join up with the squad on a high after helping Huddersfield reach the English Premier League with a play-off final victory over Reading.
And Postecoglou insists the pair have set a standard for their fellow countrymen to follow.
He said: “If we want to be a big nation in world football then we need our players playing in the big leagues.
“And our measure should be what we have seen this week: Aaron Mooy has got his team to the Premier League and been the outstanding player at his club.
“Tommy Rogic has won the Scottish Cup at a big club like Celtic.
“The fact that we don’t have many players in the top leagues now is what we need to try and remedy over the coming years.
“But our measure can’t be just because somebody is getting a game, whether that be in the A-League or any league overseas, that is enough to get them a Socceroos shirt – I don’t think that is the case.”
Former Hearts defender Dylan McGowan has been called up to the squad for the first time, joining brother Ryan.
Former Celtic and Ross County midfielder Jackson Irvine, who now plays for English Championship side Burton Albion, has also been included.
