How Hibs ace earned World Cup chance - Socceroos boss reveals all as overnight sensation Suto called up
Easter Road frontman ‘deserves to be here’ - and is committed to Aussie cause
Instant Hibs hit Ante Suto has taken a giant leap towards realising his World Cup dream, following a first ever call-up for the Socceroos. And Australia boss Tony Popovic, who revealed that he had to change his travel plans when Suto clinched his Deadline Day move to Easter Road, has offered the 25-year-old encouragement to keep pushing for a spot in this summer’s finals – despite admitting to initial doubts over how the forward would cope in Scottish football.
Forward has three goals for Hibs already
Suto, who has scored three goals in five substitute appearances and a single start for Hibs, joins team-mate Martin Boyle in the squad for Australia’s penultimate pre-tournament warm-up matches later this month. While Hibs defender Jack Iredale misses out on a spot in Tony Popovic’s plans, both Suto and Socceroos veteran Boyle will be travelling to Sydney and Melbourne for the FIFA Series games against Cameroon and Curacao on March 27 and 31, respectively.
The Aussies have just three games on their fixture list before they kick off their World Cup in earnest, with a final friendly against Mexico in California scheduled for the end of May. And Popovic, who sent assistant Mile Jedinak to have dinner with Croatian-born Suto soon after his move to Edinburgh, revealed that he’d been scouting the front man even before he became an overnight success with Hibs.
Explaining the backstory to his interest in the forward, who qualifies for Australia through Melbourne-born dad Anthony, Popovic revealed: “Yeah, you know, he was at Slaven Belupo in Croatia, so, you know, a mid-table team. And I was watching him there because I knew about his father being born in Australia.
“So I had no idea whether the boy wanted to play for Australia, but when that was made clear, I was actually on my way to watch him in Split against Hajduk. And then he moved to Hibs.
“So, it was an interesting move. Because I wasn't sure he would adapt to the physicality and the speed of the game. But Mile went and met him and watched him train and played and had dinner with him.”
Hibs goals convinced Socceroos
Revealing why he’d taken a punt on the attacking threat so close to the tournament, Popovic said: “If hadn't settled the way he had at Hibs, we probably wouldn't have called him now. If he's not quite ready or not adapting and not fitting in or physically struggling, we couldn't have called him in.
“So he’s in due what he's showing on the field, he's scoring regularly, albeit he's coming off the bench. He started his first game the other day, so it's down to his performances.
“Yeah, he's got a real eye for goal, real good instincts in and around the box, which you're always looking for. Confident young man, you know.
“I'm just looking forward to seeing what he can do in our environment, you know, with the other players stepping up to international football. So, it'll be a real learning one for us and also for him.
“If you look at the squad, there are places up for grabs. You can tell that by the new faces here.
“We’re looking forward to exposing some new players and preparing for a World Cup. WE want the players to feel that, enjoy that and embrace that. This is the last step before we head over to the States in May.”
Family rooted in Melbourne
Popovic insisted he had no qualms about the commitment of Suto to the Aussie cause, despite the wannabe international never having set foot in the country, the gaffer admitting: ““From what I've been told, he hasn't (been here), so that'll be quite interesting for him, you know. It's a nice surrounding, a nice setting to come for your first time;i t'll be something very new for him, but I'm sure very exciting as well.
“His desire to play for us is extremely strong - and then he's backed that up with how he's played. He showed the desire to play for Australia, and his performances have shown that he deserves to be here.”
Suto revealed to The Evening News just last month that he was open to a switch of nationality, explaining his family background as he said: “My father is from Australia. He was born there and lived there for 20-something years.
“Then he came back to Croatia, met my mum and stayed there. He's from Melbourne. So yeah, Melbourne City, Melbourne Knights and all that.
“I have a lot of family also in Australia. My cousins and all that. I'm connected to them.
“We chat almost every day. We have a group on Facebook, on Messenger. We are in touch. We are a big family.”
Boyle remains on track to play a major role for the Socceroos in this summer’s finals. The veteran frontman, who will end his 11-year association with Hibs at the end of the season, missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar through injury.
Iredale missing out is a major blow to the left-sided central defender. But he is still considered an option by the Aussies, with Popovic insisting earlier today that “the door is open” for those not named in the squad.