Brisbane Roar midfielder Matt McKay believes his team’s superb form in 2010/11 has helped put him in the frame for a berth in the Qantas Socceroos squad for January’s Asian Cup finals.
The 27-year-old, who has played five times for Australia since making his senior international debut four years ago, may add to his appearances on Thursday morning (AEDT) when the Socceroos meet Egypt in a friendly in Cairo.
And while new coach Holger Osieck has not provided any guarantees ahead of the Asian Cup finals in Doha in two months, McKay has his sights firmly set on being on the plane for the tournament, especially with the possibility of the squad being a largely Hyundai A-League based one.
“It’s huge to make that Asian Cup squad and I want to be involved in that,” McKay said after Sunday’s come-from-behind win over Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park.
“It’s been a goal (to make the squad) since the qualifications.”
“I was part of the qualifications, all the A-League-based squads all the way through.”
“But you never know (when) a new manager comes in, Holger’s done a great job and we’ve had some good results.”
“I want to be involved in the future for sure.”
As well as the strong form he has displayed with Brisbane this season, helping his club to the top of the table midway through the home-and-away season, McKay knows he has to maintain it to be any chance come January.
“If I keep working hard at my club, and obviously the opportunity’s come in a 20-man squad (this week), so I’ll go over there and hopefully get some minutes and play well,” he added.
“I’ve got to keep working hard at club level, if we get more games at club level and we keep winning, like I said there will be more people involved.”
McKay, who has had loan spells at Incheon United (Korea) and Changchun Yatai (China) in recent years after making his professional debut with the Brisbane Strikers in the old NSL, put his international selection down to what his club has been able to do.
“I wouldn’t be involved in any of those squads if we weren’t doing well so the way we’re playing and the players we have that have come in it suits my game and I really enjoy it,” McKay said.
“So the personnel is great and if we keep winning it won’t just be myself involved in Socceroos squads or Olyroos squads, there’s a lot of other boys in our team that will be involved.”
“I’m very happy at the moment.”
One of just two Roar players to have been with the club since the inaugural season in 2005/06, the other being Massimo Murdocca, McKay is thoroughly enjoying the success the club is having this season, especially after finishing second-last in 2009/10.
“We’ve been working so hard and the chances have been there right from the first season when I’ve been involved,” he said.
“It’s great to have the players come in that have struggled and are finishing off now.”
“Everyone’s contributing and … it does bring confidence to the team and we’ve got that winning attitude and hopefully we can keep it up so we’ll keep working hard.”
“We’ve got another tough schedule so we keep plugging away and the points keep going up.”
McKay may not have made a major impact at international level so far but given he played in the recent friendly against Paraguay in Sydney, could line up on Thursday against Egypt and has been in great form this season, Osieck could do far worse than call on him for the Asian Cup finals.
