“I’d have to say I thought I’d be watching it on the box."
After years adrift from the Socceroos squad, Australian goalkeeper Brad Jones thought his hopes of making it to the 2018 World Cup were so remote he was getting ready to watch it on the TV.
But after an impressive few seasons with Dutch club Feyenoord and new coach Bert van Marwijk eager to give him a shot, Jones will be in Russia and isn't settling for a spot on the bench either.
With van Marwijk making it clear the number one spot is up for grabs despite Maty Ryan's firm grip on it in recent years, both Jones and Danny Vukovic got to play 45 minutes each in a recent friendly against Colombia.
Neither conceded a goal against the South Americans and Jones is out to make the spot in goal his own for the World Cup.
"You have to have that mindset," he told socceroos.com.au.
"I didn’t come in to roll over and give it to someone else.
"At the same time, I respect Maty in what he’s done. He’s done it for the last four years and done it for the Socceroos and for his team [Brighton] as well.
"I’m not saying I’m going to walk in and just get it but I want to push as hard as I can and say ‘I’ve had a go’ if it comes down to it."
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The 36-year-old former Liverpool keeper has hit career best form with Feyernoord and concedes though he may not be as flexible as he once was, he has become a far better keeper with time.
"Obviously with age, the experience I have now from the times that have gone, I’m probably a bit calmer," he said.
"I’m certainly not as athletic as I once was but make up for it with experience and the mind rather than the body.
“I’m not saying I can’t move but definitely there’s a lot of situations I can see in a game and experience definitely helps with that."
