The time for Australia’s generation next to step up has come according to one of its brightest prospects - emerging Qantas Socceroo midfielder James Holland.
Holland and the likes of Ryan McGowan, Tommy Oar and Adam Sarota are representative of the next batch of internationals currently being groomed into the Qantas Socceroos set up.
Several Australian youngsters are beginning to make an impression across the globe in various competitions and it is incumbent on Holland and company to make the most of their time in front of coach Holger Osieck.
Holland’s appearance off the bench against Lebanon last month was his sixth for the Qantas Socceroos and the Austria-based midfielder is hopeful of playing a part in what would be his most significant match yet in green and gold.
“For us (the younger players) it’s just important to show the coach, the boss, that we are here and that we are ready,” said Holland.
“We can only do that by training well and showing him that we’re confident enough and I suppose we’ve got to get the runs on the board.
“It’s important for us to show that every day on the training field and whether the boss decides to give us a chance or not, that’s just up to him and we just have to be ready.”
At 23-years-of-age, Holland is one of the youngest of Australia’s squad in Doha but has being leading the way in terms of domestic form thus far in the European 2012/13 season.
With the Austrian Bundesliga kicking off before many of it’s European counterparts, Holland has already contributed eleven starts to Austria Vienna’s league campaign, in addition to a handful of appearances in cup competitions.
The second most successful club in Austrian football history – behind local rivals Rapid Vienna – Austria Vienna has enjoyed a strong start to the current season, though a modest patch of results lately have seem them slip from first place to third.
Regardless, Holland’s form and presence has remained constant in the Austrian capital, with the former Newcastle Jets midfielder believing his game has continued to improve as a result of regular - and high quality - game time.
“I feel really good, I feel really fit, probably the fittest I’ve felt,” said Holland.
“It’s good to be getting game time and I think that’s really important at a young age, you feel yourself get into that rhythm and get used to game situations.
“I feeling really good with myself and the team (Austria Vienna), although we’ve slipped the last couple of weeks, we are playing well and I think we can turn things around definitely.”
The Qantas Socceroos resume their FIFA World Cup qualification campaign against Iraq at Doha’s Al Arabi Stadium at 5.15pm on Tuesday, 16 October (1.15am AEDT, Wednesday, 17 October).
The Qantas Socceroos return to Australia in 2013, for the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Oman at Sydney’s Stadium Australia at 7.30pm, Tuesday, 26 March, followed by Iraq, at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 18 June.
Tickets for both matches at Stadium Australia are on sale now throughTicketek or via phone, 132 849