Ryan Strain reveals why he cut his Dundee United European celebrations short
The full back quickly jetted off to join up with the Socceroos after winning his first senior call-up
Dundee United hero Ryan Strain was more than happy to cut his Euro qualification party short to return to the Australia squad.
The full-back helped United to finish in fourth place but less than 24 hour later he was flying out to Abu Dhabi to join up with the Socceroos.
Strain has been called up by now Aussie boss Tony Popovic for the first-time and is desperate to impress so he keeps his place for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia.
The defender beamed: 'It is brilliant to have qualified (for Europe). I enjoyed Saturday night with the boys and we had a celebration. Unfortunately, I missed the player of the year night because I flew out to join up with the Australia squad.
'You know, obviously, it is great to get back in the Australia squad.
'I kept saying to you when I come back from injury, that all I wanted to do is get back in that fold again.
'It's a pre-camp, so it's not the final squad but it's just good to be around that again.
'It's amazing and hopefully, I can get into the final squad.'
Strain is hoping to get some extra time off after his international stint. He is keen to avoid the issues he had last season, when he joined up for pre-season with a groin issue.
The United star admitted: 'I will need to speak to the gaffer. Hopefully, he gives me another week off because I don't want to come back and get injured again, so, hopefully, I can just manage things myself.
'So, obviously, I did that last year and got injured.
'This time I want to come back, have a full pre-season.
'If I can get a full pre-season, I know I can do even better this year, so, next year, so.'
Strain turned his back on Europe with St Mirren to move to United. He then predicted his new team would be in the European fight. He was proved right.
Strain claimed: '(It's) Unbelievable, you know, I came here with big ambitions.
'You know, it's a massive club and I said at the start I want to get to Europe.
'To have done that is amazing.
'I left St Mirren before the European tour with them and to do it with United is great. I just can't wait now.
'What a season, what a group we have, you know, the coaching staff have always believed in us.'
Strain has helped a lot of praise for United's success at the feet of manager Jim Goodwin. He explained: 'For me, anyway, because, obviously, he's come in and shown trust in me.
'I got injured early on. Since I have come back, he's started me and he's put trust in me. It is good to know he has faith in me.
'I've just got to thank him and I'm buzzing for him as well because, you know, he's been working really hard to bring success.
'It is, obviously, his first win after the split, so I'm buzzing for that as well.
'He was getting a fair bit of stick from the Aberdeen fans, so it was, obviously, quite nice that he got the last laugh.
'He was there and, obviously, they don't like him, but he's here and he's loved now.
'Hopefully, we can have a good European tour next year.'
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