2022 World Cup hero Mathew Leckie grateful for Australia call-up after injury battle

[p]Four years ago in Qatar, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leckie-mathew/pxSEDSGF/"]Leckie[/a] scored a brilliant goal ‌to down [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/denmark/0KUdxQVi/"]Denmark[/a] 1-0 and put [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]Australia[/a] into the ‌last 16 for the second time in their World Cup history.[/p][p]Now ‌35, the winger-turned-midfielder is coming off an injury-plagued season ‌with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/melbourne-city/OKfoGJBe/"]Melbourne City[/a] but is eyeing a fourth World Cup after being called into the Socceroos' training camp in Florida.[/p][p][b]"It’s been a ‌frustrating time but I guess I’ve just always ⁠had the mentality that ‌I could get back," [/b]Leckie told reporters in a video call ​on Friday.[/p][p]"Without injury when I’m out there, I’m still capable to be in good shape.[/p][p][b]"I don’t feel ​like I’m slowing down in any way, and the key has been to try to stay fit. I’ve still got ⁠a lot to ​give when I’m fit."[/b][/p][embed guid="fcf2c419-ee99-4882-9c09-cf8761507479" url="https://x.com/Socceroos/status/2057683244079026586" social-type="twitter" /][p]Leckie struggled to get back on the pitch for Melbourne City following hip surgery in December but impressed on his return in April.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/popovic-balsa/xxi2Qq7t/"]Popovic[/a] all but confirmed Leckie would ‌be part of his squad if fit, and singled him out for praise after he [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/auckland-fc-2J7jacL6/melbourne-city-OKfoGJBe/?mid=zwdWqdln"]played 120 minutes in City's shootout loss[/a] to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/auckland-fc/2J7jacL6/"]Auckland FC[/a] in the A-League playoffs.[/p][p][b]"It will come down to his body, but if you just look at the quality he could (produce) at 35 with no football under his belt, a young player can’t do that," [/b]Popovic said this month.[/p][p]Leckie said he was glad of ‌the compliment and was working hard to reward Popovic's faith.[/p][p][b]"I’ve ​really put my head down in this camp and ‌tried to work hard and do everything right to give myself a chance,"[/b] he said.[/p][p]"I’ll put my hand up to help any way the boss thinks I can."[/p][p]Australia [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/australia-xSrf6qMM/turkey-7s-QeijuHo5/?mid=nLNXPs35"]kick off their World Cup[/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/turkey/QeijuHo5/"]Turkey[/a] in Vancouver ⁠on June 13 and ⁠also play co-hosts the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]‌United States[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paraguay/YaNlqp6j/"]Paraguay[/a].[/p]