Irvine key against Syria

JACKSON Irvine is reaping the rewards of his hard-nosed football education in the UK.

And the Hull City man is ready to call on it again against a Syria side with a “dangerous” attacking approach and buoyed by a new manager.

Irvine was the perfect man to take on Palestine striker Mahmoud Wadi in Sunday’s 3-0 victory. He was identified as an aerial threat and lauded for his physicality at Melbourne club Frankston Pines.

That was developed as a teenager in Scotland, then finetuned in England’s lower leagues.

Irvine’s energy off the bench in Australia’s opening 1-0 loss to Jordan earned him a start against Palestine. Both opponents stacked their defences, forcing Australia to generate goals from wide areas.

Irvine 25, is in strong contention to start against Syria.

The result will determine whether the Socceroos progress from Group B in second, remain in contention in third, or go home in last place.

A Syria contingent needing all three points might allow the

Socceroos to play through more centrally. “At some point that will probably be the case,” Irvine said yesterday.

“If they do choose to come out early doors and press us high, that maybe does suit us attacking a different way to create chances. If we start the game in the same way we started the last game – positive, front-foot, picking the right moments to try and penetrate and play forward passes – then if we can get that early goal that will draw them out even further, knowing they need a result.

“Hopefully that can open the game up even more for us to play some free-flowing, attacking football.”

If Milligan is preferred in central defence over Matt Jurman to replace the suspended Trent Sainsbury, Irvine and Massimo Luongo are contenders to pair up in midfield.