Martin Boyle intent on playing at next year's FIFA World Cup after missing 2022 tournament
Having secured his future with Scottish Premiership club Hibernian for at least another season, Socceroos star Martin Boyle has switched his attention to playing at a FIFA World Cup for the first time.
Boyle scored for Hibs in their final game of the season, a 2-2 weekend draw with Rangers, to complete an excellent individual campaign for the 32-year-old attacker.
He netted 20 goals in all competitions and complemented that with 11 assists. Such form had Hibs eager to trigger a contract extension clause, with Boyle happy to commit to the Edinburgh-based club for another year.
'The majority of people maybe knew it was coming, but it was a no-brainer for me to sign it,' Boyle told Scottish media.
'Everyone can see the passion I have for the club.'
Hibs, whose squad this season also included Boyle's Socceroos teammate Lewis Miller and two other Australians in Jack Iredale and Nectarios Triantis, finished third on the ladder to secure, at the very least, a spot in next season's Europa League second qualifying round.
'We might need a few more players just for that European spot,' Boyle said.
'We did that a few years ago where we played the same team and ran out of steam, and we didn't have the best start of the season.'
With his commitments with Hibs finished for the season, Boyle was set to arrive in the UAE on Monday for a national training camp ahead of the Socceroos' World Cup qualifiers next month against Japan and Saudi Arabia.
'Hopefully, I can finish off (the season) with two good games for Australia (and) qualify for the World Cup,' he said.
A serious knee injury robbed Boyle of the chance of playing for the Socceroos at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
'I'm back in the international frame. I want to … try to get to another World Cup that injury took away from me last time,' he said.
Meanwhile, defender Alessandro Circati has taken a significant step towards a Socceroos recall next month by playing for the first time since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in September last year.
Having been an unused substitute for his Italian top-flight club Parma since April 13, 21-year-old Circati started and played the full match in his side's 0-0 draw with Napoli.
With one game of the Serie A season remaining, Parma is two points clear of the relegation zone.
Circati is yet to play under Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, with his most recent appearance for the national team being then mentor Graham Arnold's final game of charge of Australia, a 0-0 draw with Indonesia in Jakarta on September 10 last year.
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Nah, kidding, sorry, mate. "But it feels good, and probably a good way to silence some of the keyboard warriors as well. Feels good." Duke had previously been open about critics on social media coming for him after he missed chances in Australia's Asian Cup quarter-final exit last year. Winger Martin Boyle was singing the praises of hard-working Duke, one of the heroes of Australia's golden run at the 2022 World Cup. "Absolutely delighted for him," Boyle told AAP. "Obviously, as footballers, you're open to a lot of criticism, but for Dukey, he just powers through. He comes up with some massive goals. "Obviously he was disappointed not to be selected in the initial squad. But he's also come back, he's kept his head down, and he's changed the game against Japan. "He took his chance and his opportunity tonight with a goal and an assist. "I love playing with him, and I have done for many years, and everything that he's given for the country. He's a top-class striker and hopefully he can keep going." Duke relished Australia's turnaround in qualifying after Popovic took over from Graham Arnold, who resigned after a loss and draw in his first two games of the campaign. "It feels damn good," Duke said. "Not the best start (to qualifying) to be honest, and to get us here, into automatic qualification, we haven't done that for a while, just feels unbelievable." Now 34, Duke knows he will have to kick up a gear to retain his spot ahead of next year's tournament in north America, especially with young strikers like Mo Toure waiting in the wings. "All I can do is take the opportunities when they're presented to me, do well at club football, and hope I just keep doing well," he said. Mitch Duke wasn't even supposed to be a part of the Socceroos' past two World Cup qualifiers. Then he sealed Australia's sixth consecutive World Cup finals appearance. But his teammates never doubted his value, or ability to step up. 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