Dapto’s fit-again Socceroo Matt Jurman is determined to continue forging a formidable defensive partnership with fellow centre-half Trent Sainsbury as Australia’s FIFA World Cup campaign closes in.
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Jurman has made just four appearances for the national team, but all have come alongside Sainsbury during a tense final four qualifying matches for the tournament in Russia.
He hasn’t featured for the Socceroos since undergoing meniscus surgery in February this year.
Despite the injury, the 28 year-old kept his spot in new coach Bert van Marwijk’s 26-man preliminary squad for the Cup while working his way back to full fitness with club side Suwon Bluewings.
That squad will be reduced to 23 players on June 3.
They are currently in camp in Antalya, Turkey, with friendlies against the Czech Republic and Hungary still to play in the lead up to the Cup.
Van Marwijk has previously given a strong indication that Jurman would be part of his plans in Russia after the defender sat out the Socceroos’ recent friendlies against Norway and Colombia in March with injury.
Sainsbury was also absent for the two warm-up fixtures, but Jurman was hopeful of resuming that partnership on the world’s biggest stage.
"I haven't played too much with Trent but every time I have it has been enjoyable and I think we have got a good understanding playing together,” Jurman said.
"I think we have done well so hopefully we can build on that.
"Communication has got to be a massive thing [for us].
"I don't know how noisy it is going to be but I don't think it will be as noisy as it was in Honduras.
"We just need to try to help each other as much as we can."
Jurman only joined the Socceroos’ squad in camp this week and was determined to make his presence felt in his return from injury.
“I am feeling great,” he said.
“Since the last camp [in Norway and England] I went back [to Korea Republic] and played quite a few games so coming into this camp I feel a lot better than the last camp.
"It's all that has been on my mind since we qualified [to get back to full fitness].
"Since having the surgery it has all been up.
"To come into this camp and see all the boys again, it has been quite a big moment for me to be here."
Jurman will get the chance to reclaim his spot in the starting line-up when the Socceroos play the Czech Republic in Austria on June 1.
Australia’s final practice match comes eight days later when they meet Hungary in Budapest.
The national team begin their World Cup campaign against European heavyweights France (June 16) in Kazan before taking on Denmark (June 21) in Samara and Peru (June 26) in Sochi.