Aaron Mooy has credited Celtic's European adventures and superb domestic form as the reasons for his call-up to the Australian national team for the World Cup in Qatar.
Mooy made his name in the English Premier League for Huddersfield Town and Brighton and Hove Albion, where he spent four years in blue and white stripes before making the shock move to Shanghai Port in the Chinese Super League. Having fallen off the radar somewhat, he was afford another chance in the UK under Ange Postecoglou, who had noted his talents previously when he was manager of the Socceroos.
And despite having to haul himself into a squad that features Callum McGregor, David Turnbull, Reo Hatate and Matt O'Riley amongst others, Mooy has shone with 20 appearances for the Hoops. Acting as a calm, collected and above all talented head in the middle of the park, that has made Graham Arnold sit up and take note of his displays - including Mooy in the squad for Qatar despite making just five appearances for his nation this year. And the former St Mirren star has named Celtic as the reason for his inclusion, with games coming thick and fast proving his fitness.
Mooy said: "Yeah, I am definitely looking forward to it. I am very proud to be selected in the squad.
"It is an opportunity that does not come round all that often as it's only every four years that there is a World Cup and there is no guarantees that you are going to be at a World Cup. It's a very special thing and I am looking forward to it a lot. Everyone [at Celtic] is happy and bubbly all the time and it is a good group to be around.
"Everyone has been wishing me and the other lads well. We've had a very busy schedule and had so many games recently and we have just been focusing on the games really one by one. "
