Socceroos selection the cherry on top of Stefan Mauk’s golden 2016

Adelaide United youngster Stefan Mauk could hardly have dreamed of a more impressive 2015-16 season.

Even before making the mid-season switch to Adelaide United from Melbourne City, Mauk was scoring goals – four with the Victorian side as well as two assists put his name on the A-League map as a player to keep an eye on.

But it was that move to his home town of Adelaide that really thrust Mauk’s name into the national spotlight as one of the competition’s premier young players. The 20-year-old entrenched himself in United’s star-studded midfield, scoring three goals from deep midfield in 13 appearances in red as they stormed to a premiership/championship double.

EVENT: Socceroos vs England LIVE on the BIG SCREEN

For Mauk, international senior selection was merely a pipe dream. He had been called up by the Olyroos on nine occasions and was part of the squad that failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics and prior to that, was a regular in Australia’s under-20 squad.

But the surprise feat is now achieved and Mauk could well make his first senior appearance for Australia against old enemy England at the Stadium of Light in Saturday morning’s early hours. It is all part of a whirlwind 2016 that Mauk says is “surreal”.

“Going back to the start of 2016, we were in Qatar (for Olympic qualification) and that was obviously a massive disappointment with not qualifying, but then I made the mid-season switch to Adelaide and that was obviously a great move for me personally,” Mauk said.

“We ended up winning the championship, personally I had a really good end to the year and now the surprise callup to the Socceroos, it’s all a little bit surreal.

“I guess it (international selection) is everyone’s dream and to play the game at the highest level possible, so I’ve always been wanting to get into the squad … you’re always thinking in the back of your mind ‘hopefully I can perform well enough to get Ange (Postecoglou)’s attention’.

“I didn’t think this was going to come. I had a pretty good end to the year but definitely didn’t think the call was going to come in the offseason that I’ve made the squad for the England game.”

The aim for Mauk if he does take to the field against the Three Lions is simple: impress the boss and enjoy the experience.

“(I just want) to impress Ange, get to know a few of the boys I’ve never met before and hopefully settle in and show I’m the type of player that they’re looking for and just take it all in.

“I’m only 20, so it’s a great experience for me to train with a lot of the boys in this squad and then play hopefully against England, see the crowd and see what it takes to be at this high level.”

Members of the Socceroos travelling party have begun arriving in England but will be without captain Mile Jedinak after Saturday’s FA Cup final.

Kick-off is at 4:45 am on Saturday morning Australian time.

Socceroos squad vs England (28 May 2016)

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