Goal.com

Alan Nicolea compiles Goal.com's concise Australians Abroad round-up for this week, from the UK and Europe to Asia and the Americas

By ALAN NICOLEA

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It was a week to remember for one of Australia's rising stars, as Tom Rogic made a terrific debut for Scottish Premier League giants Celtic.

The former Central Coast Mariners midfielder impressed greatly in his new colours, setting up Kris Commons' goal in the 3-1 victory over Inverness in the Scottish Premier League.

Rogic was handed a 90-minute outing for the Hoops, with manager Neil Lennon electing to make a host of changes ahead of Celtic's crucial Champions League meeting with Juventus on Tuesday

Rogic will not be available for the tie, having not been registered for the competition.

Alex Brosque also continued his strong form, scoring United Arab Emirates club Al Ain's first goal in the 2-1 victory over Bani Yas in the Presidents Cup.

In the English Premier League, Adam Federici battled valiantly but his effort was not enough as Reading succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Stoke City.

Fresh from his start for Australia, Michael Zullo experienced frustration in his start for FC Utrecht, who were humbled 3-0 at home to NEC in the Eredivisie.

Zullo's side conceded from a corner in the first half before the Socceroos left-back was withdrawn soon after the break.  Utrecht then went on to concede twice more late in the game, with Zullo watching from the bench.

Zullo was not the only Australian abroad to experience frustration on the weekend, with several others missing through injury or failing to win playing time.

AUSSIES ABROAD: THE FULL ROUND-UP

Austria

James Holland (Austria Vienna) – Austria Vienna resumes their Bundesliga campaign next week.

Denmark

Brent McGrath (Brondby) – Brondby resumes their Superliga campaign in March.

England

Premier League

Adam Federici (Reading) – Did well to deny Peter Crouch and Ryan Shawcross from scoring but could do little to stop Robert Huth and Cameron Jerome from finding the back of the net as Stoke City defeated Reading 2-1 on Saturday.

Brad Jones (Liverpool FC) – Liverpool did not play on the weekend.

Brett Holman (Aston Villa) – Was on the bench as Aston Villa recorded a 2-1 victory over West Ham United on Sunday.

Chris Herd (Aston Villa) – Currently sidelined with a foot injury.

Mark Schwarzer (Fulham) – Hardly troubled in the 0-0 draw with Norwich City on Saturday.

Championship

Sebastian Usai (Blackburn Rovers) – On the bench as Blackburn Rovers secured a 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Saturday.

Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace) – Did not play in the 2-2 draw with Watford on Friday due to a facial injury.

Patrick Kisnorbo (Ipswich Town) – On the bench as Ipswich Town lost 1-0 to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

Neil Kilkenny (Bristol City) – Did not play in the 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Shane Lowry (Millwall) – Played 90 minutes in the 2-1 defeat to Blackpool on Saturday. Lowry was solid until the 91st minute, when Nathan Delfouneso beat the Australian defender before slotting past David Forde for the winning goal.  

Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough) – Did not play in the 3-2 defeat to Barnsley on Saturday through injury.

Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough) – Played 90 minutes and was booked in the 3-2 loss to Barnsley. He did, however, set up Curtis Main's goal after producing a fine cross in the second half.

Germany

Robbie Kruse (Fortuna Dusseldorf) – Played 82 minutes before being substituted for Axel Bellinghausen in the 1-0 loss to SC Freiburg on Sunday.

Nikita Rukavytsya (Mainz 05) – Did not play in the 0-0 draw with FC Augsburg on Sunday.

Mitchell Langerak (Borussia Dortmund) – Back on the bench as Borussia Dortmund suffered a shock 4-1 home defeat to Hamburger SV on Saturday.

Mustafa Amini (Borussia Dortmund) – Absent in the 4-1 loss to Hamburger SV.

GOOD WEEK/BAD WEEK

GOOD - TOM ROGIC It did not take long for Rogic to certify himself as Australia's best player abroad this week, starring in his debut match for Celtic. Rogic played 90 minutes in the 3-1 victory over Inverness and the 20-year-old looked right at home in the Scottish top flight, setting up Kris Commons’ goal with a deft cut-back after easily skipping past Owain Tudor Jones in the lead-up. He had several shots at goal, with his first strike from outside the box sailing just wide.  Celtic coach Neil Lennon would have been mightily impressed with Rogic's performance, though he will not be considered for the Champions League fixture against Juventus.  BAD - MICHAEL ZULLO The Australia international defender had been biding his time on the bench for Utrecht but finally earned a starting berth against NEC. Unfortunately, Zullo's start was to last just 62 minutes, as NEC outplayed the hosts en route to a 3-0 victory. Zullo was on the pitch as NEC scored the opener from a corner, but had been substituted when the visitors scored twice late on. He will hope he gets another chance when Utrecht meet PSV Eindhoven on Saturday.

2. Bundesliga

Mathew Leckie (FSV Frankfurt) – Started on the bench before replacing Marcel Gaus in the 81st minute in the 2-0 win over Erzgebirge Aue on Friday.

Greece

Apostolis Giannou (PAOK Thessaloniki) – Did not play in the 3-1 victory over OFI on Saturday.

Giannis Simosis (Kerkyra) – Absent in the 1-0 loss at home to AEK Athens on Sunday.

Holland

Adam Sarota (Utrecht FC) – Set to miss 10 months of action with a knee injury.

Tommy Oar (Utrecht FC) – Still recovering from a hamstring injury and did not play in the 3-0 loss to NEC on Sunday.

Michael Zullo (Utrecht FC) – Back in the starting line-up but part of Utrecht's 3-0 loss at home to NEC. Zullo was eventually substituted for Leon de Kogel in the 62nd minute.

Jason Davidson (Heracles Almelo) – An unused substitute in Heracles' 4-1 victory over Willem II on Saturday.

Italy

Serie A

James Troisi (Atalanta) – Not in the squad as Atalanta drew 0-0 with Catania on Sunday.

Serie B

Carl Valeri (Sassuolo) – Did not play in the 3-1 victory over Pro Vercelli on Saturday.

Portugal

Caleb Patterson-Sewell (Vitoria Setubal) – An unused substituted as Vitoria Setubal beat Gil Vicente 1-0 at home on Sunday.

Qatar

Matt Spiranovic (Al Arabi) – Did not play in the 1-1 draw with Qatar SC on Sunday.

Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa) – Al Gharafa did not play on the weekend.

Sasa Ognenovski (Umm Salal) – Played 90 minutes and was solid in the 1-1 draw with Al Kharitiyath on Sunday.

Russia

Luke Wilkshere (Dinamo Moscow) – Dinamo Moscow resumes their campaign in March.

Croatia

Tomi Juric (NK Inter) – Has transferred to A-League club Adelaide United.

Scotland

Dylan McGowan (Hearts) – Did not play in the 3-1 defeat to Dundee United on Saturday.

Tom Rogic (Celtic) – Enjoyed a terrific debut for Celtic, playing 90 minutes and setting up a goal in the 3-1 victory over Inverness on Saturday.

Turkey

Kerem Bulut (Akhisar Belediyespor) – On the bench in the 2-0 win over Istanbul BB on Saturday.

Ersan Gulum (Besiktas) – Absent in the 3-1 victory over Elazigspor on Sunday.

UAE

Alex Brosque (Al Ain) – Got on the scoresheet yet again for Al Ain, making the most of Jires Kembo Ekoko's volleyed cross to nod home from inside the six-yard box in the 2-1 victory over Bani Yas in the Presidents Cup on Sunday.

Nick Carle (Bani Yas) – Played 90 minutes in the 2-1 defeat to Al Ain.

Dino Dulbic (Al Wahda) – Al Wahda did not play on the weekend.

Lucas Neill (Al Wasl) – On the lookout for a new club after he was released from the remainder of his contract.

Richard Porta (Dubai) – Dubai did not play on the weekend.