Maclaren dares to dream of home goal

I’ve scored so many goals here and the most special one would be for your country,” Maclaren said.

“I’ve got some fantastic memories here and you think ‘I’ve had some great moments here, why don’t I add more’.

“That’s the mentality I had when I was at Brisbane. Every time there was a home game, I knew the boys would create chances for me.

“It’s definitely a fantastic stadium which I do miss. Looking at the pitch now from the stands, I’m visioning some of the goals I scored here.”

But whether or not he scores this weekend, Maclaren is just happy to be back with the Socceroos after missing Australia’s 4-0 win over Kuwait last month with a back injury that is still causing him angst.

“I wasn’t feeling right … so I went to have a scan and it turned out that I had a stress response in the lower back, which is the stage before a stress fracture,” he said.

“It’s frustrating. I’m still feeling a little bit of pain, but that’s expected. It’s not just going to go away overnight, or in a couple of weeks.”

Maclaren now wears orthotics to keep his hips level, which alleviates the problem of his right foot being smaller that his left foot.

“I’m on the mend, but it’s definitely something that I need to manage,” he said.

“I don’t take for granted being out on the field. I missed five weeks and every day you’re in that gym, you miss being out on the grass.”

Should Maclaren play on Saturday night, it could be alongside his fellow Hibs forward Martin Boyle, the Scotland-born winger.

“He’ll bring something great to the Socceroos,” Maclaren said.