Well and truly past the ankle injury that had Australia’s hearts in their mouths, midfielder Aiden O’Neill has declared himself fit and ready to tackle his first World Cup.
O’Neill sent a scare through the Socceroos camp when he went down with an ankle injury while playing for New York City FC in early May.
But unlike fellow midfielder Patrick Yazbek, whose injury ruled him out of the World Cup, O’Neill was able to recover enough to get into last month’s training camp in Sarasota.
“I obviously had a little issue. That’s sorted now,” O’Neill said.
“Just been good to be back in training.
“Obviously it happens to a lot of players, and thankfully I’m fine.”
O’Neill was one of the unlucky final few to miss out on the Tokyo Olympics with the Olyroos and did not make his Socceroos debut until 2023, after the last World Cup.
The Queenslander is determined to take his chance.
“It’s obviously a dream come true to be here, and it’s about working hard and making sure that I take the opportunity I’ve been given,” he said.
Australia is taking just four bona fide “midfielders”: Jackson Irvine, O’Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler and Cammy Devlin.
Mathew Leckie, Connor Metcalfe and Ajdin Hrustic are more inverted wingers/attacking midfielders, along with Cristian Volpato.
O’Neill is a constant fixture in Tony Popovic’s midfield and is enjoying linking up with former Melbourne City teammates Leckie and Metcalfe.
“I’ve got a lot of experience with Lecks, obviously from Melbourne City days, and we played quite well together, as well as Connor in there as well,” he said.
“But I think it’s really exciting. We’ve got an exciting squad, and we’re all really excited.”
The Socceroos were well-beaten by Mexico in the opening half of last week’s 1-0 loss and O’Neill and his teammates are determined to be on the front foot against Switzerland on Saturday (Sunday AEST) in San Diego.
The 27-year-old has loved life in the MLS, even if it means copping some banter from his American teammates ahead of Australia’s June 19 clash with the United States.
“They try,” he said with a smile.
O’Neill is not fazed by American pundits writing Australia off, either.
“It’s going to be a really good game,” he said.
“If they want to talk on social media, and they want to say what they want to say, we don’t mind being an underdog and we have to have to prove ourselves on the day.”
AAP
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