Tommy the gun player for Cup

this tall skinny guy and a little bit uncoordinated.

“But he’s a beast now, he’s a big boy. You look at the size of him and how quick his feet are, and his skill factor is incredible.

“Tommy’s a player who just plays what he feels. He’s unpredictable. There’s not many talents that have come through Australia with that type of technique and skill as Tommy. “He’s a joy to coach.” Rogic is a joy to watch too, especially when he’s on.

There’s sometimes a sense he’s but scratched the surface of his Socceroos potential, but the reunion with his first professional coach might yet draw more out of a player whose style suits Arnold’s free-flowing set-up to a tee.

“He was my first manager in professional football and I certainly learnt a lot from him,” Rogic said in October.

“Fast forward six years and it is safe to say he has learnt a lot and become a better manager, and along the way I feel like I have become a better player as well.

“In my role on the pitch there’s always a certain element of freedom but there’s just a little more emphasis placed upon that.”

Now settled in Socceroos camp in the United Arab Emirates, Rogic is banging them in for fun on the training pitch.

With injuries to some other experienced attacking personnel, there’s a sense this might be his moment to shine.

And Arnold is backing him to contest for player of the tournament four years after teammate Massimo Luongo took out the 2015 honour.

“When you give him freedom and confidence and belief, get him smiling and make him happy, he’s gonna be great,” Arnold said.