Mariners first ALM club to send three players to a Roos World Cup squad but Vukovic warns there’s more to come!

Danny Vukovic, Jason Cummings and Garang Kuol. The Central Coast Mariners trio will be on the plane with the Socceroos to the FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar this month.

Their inclusion represents a significant feat as the Mariners are the first club in the history of the Isuzu UTE A-League to provide three players to a Socceroos World Cup squad.

That is before you look at Kye Rowles, who made his Australia debut while still playing for the Mariners prior to his big off-season move to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.

Central Coast continue to provide a pathway to either the Socceroos or football abroad and as Vukovic, Cummings and teenage sensation Kuol prepare to feature at Qatar 2022, the Mariners captain warned there is more to come from Gosford, with the production line also including Jacob Farrell, Thomas Aquilina and Samuel Silvera.

“There’s more national team players in this squad for the future,” Vukovic told reporters on Wednesday.

You look at Jacob Farrell, Thomas Aquilina, Samuel Silvera. These are all guys that can really do something special this season.

“Who knows what the future holds but I truly believe there’s more Socceroos in this squad.”

Back at the club where he started his A-League Men career this season, Vukovic will take part in his second consecutive World Cup.

The 37-year-old was not included in September’s friendlies against New Zealand, but he and Sydney FC’s Andrew Redmayne were preferred to Mitch Langerak to provide competition for captain Mat Ryan.

Before Vukovic got the World Cup call, he was a nervous wreck, with a trip to the local pub providing temporary solace.

“I was at the pub with [fellow Mariners goalkeeper] Yaren Sozer playing poker. He knew I was nervous, being a bit of a basket case for 24 hours, so wanted me to get out of the house,” Vukovic said.

“Got the phone call from John Crawley and he had good news. I had a celebratory beer with Yaren afterwards.

“And Yaren actually won [the game of poker].”

Vukovic added: “I was always believed I would be there. There was part of me with a little doubt.

“I’m 37 but it’s still a boyhood dream.”

While Vukovic is no stranger to the World Cup, it’s a whole new experience for the biggest talking point in Australian football – Kuol.

Kuol is yet to start a professional game, yet the 18-year-old sensation is set to grace the World Cup stage before linking up with Premier League giants Newcastle United in January.

It’s been a rapid rise for the Sudanese refugee, who dazzled for the A-Leagues All Stars against Barcelona in May and made a huge impact on his Socceroos debut in September.

Amid all the hype, Kuol has remained the same.

“In terms of his mentality, that’s a real positive for him. He is humble and hasn’t let this excitement around him get to his head,” Vukovic said.

Every session he is the last one out there still kicking a ball around. That will serve him well.

As Kuol – who received plenty of congratulatory calls from his older brother and Stuttgart striker Alou – prepares for a life-changing switch to Newcastle, Vukovic – who had a forgettable first taste of European football with Konyaspor in 2010 before starring with Genk between 2017 and 2021 – shared some words of wisdom.

“The advice is not to take it for granted because maybe in a way I did that. I think I was in my early 20s when I first started with the national team and you get almost to a point where you think it’s always going to happen,” he said.

I’m living proof that it can taken away very quickly. Seven-eight years. I remember watching the boys in Brazil and these are guys I was in the national team with and I was at home watching them.

“Don’t take it for granted. Not only for Garang Kuol but everyone out there. You can’t pick and chose when you want to be a Socceroo.”

“There’s been a lot of talk about the reserve goalkeeping spot for the World Cup more so than what I think is needed. Twenty 26 men have realised a lifelong dream and the focus has been on that which is disappointing. But it goes to show how football media is in this country sometimes. Tend to focus on the negativity rather than the massive positives.”

Cummings: I’ll be a big asset to the Socceroos for the next few years

Cummings had been dreaming of this moment as soon as he touched down in Australia in January – representing the Socceroos at the World Cup.

Those dreams became reality on Tuesday after an early-morning wake-up call from his team-mate Kuol.

“I got woken up by Garang. He called me at 7:30 in the morning. I’m like, he never phones me this early, must be something with the Socceroos. I actually missed the call because I was half asleep,” said Cummings, who felt he was misunderstood in Scotland.

“Then when I checked my phone, I seen a message from the team manager saying congratulations, you’re going to Qatar. Euphoria. I jumped out of the bed.

I was buzzing and was emotional. I was tearing up a wee bit. I phoned my mum straight away and saw my dog on FaceTime. A surreal moment. It took a while to sink in.

Graham Arnold’s announcement capped an incredible 10 months for Cummings, who said he is in career-best form.

On the bench at struggling Dundee in Scotland and not enjoying football, Cummings relocated Down Under to reinvent himself and he rediscovered his love for the game.

An A-Leagues All Star against LaLiga powerhouse Barca and a goalscorer on his Australia debut in September, Cummings had laid out his goal to go the World Cup and he completed that mission.

“I feel super proud. In January I did say all these things. It felt far away at the time but I truly believed in myself. I came over here and reinvented myself. I did all my talking on the pitch and get everyone speaking about me for football instead of other reasons.

“Even the All Stars game against Barcelona, that was a dream true. The ultimate goal was the Socceroos and to get the call-up last camp I was over the moon. That was almost at the pinnacle and I thought wow, I’ve done, and I’ve got a goal as well.

“The World Cup was always the dream. I’m not one for counting my chickens. I was staying humble and saying, if I’m not in there, we will go again and work harder but I feel like I’ve deserved my place.

“Now I feel like I need to set new goals. Go to the World Cup, get into the team and score goals over there. I feel like it’s just the beginning of my Socceroos career. I’m 27 and still have a few years in my prime.

I feel like I’ll be a big asset to the Socceroos over the next few years.

Cummings made two appearances for Scotland in 2017-18 but he is set to add to his solitary Socceroos cap at Qatar 2022. How does he view the whole journey?

“It’s almost like a multiverse – I’m a big marvel fan. Like Dr. Strange on a different planet,” he said in typical Cummings fashion.

“This is what Jason Cummings on a different planet would be living like.”

Cummings also had advice for some of his team-mates, who are looking to make the move abroad just like Kye Rowles, Lewis Miller (Hibernian), Alou Kuol (Stuttgart), Jing Reece (AGF Aarhus), Gianni Stensness (Vikings FK).

“A lot of boys are wanting to go to Scotland and England, and to go over there to play,” Cummings said. “I’m just like, stay here. Sometimes the grass isn’t greener over there.

“Over here it’s just so good. The culture – everyone is upbeat. The football is good, the lifestyle is good and the weather is much better.

“The best thing I’ve done in my life is making the step to come to Australia.”

And you can catch Vukovic, Cummings and Kuol in action before the World Cup when the in-form Mariners host Macarthur FC on Sunday.