Goalkeeper Brad Jones has revealed he is gunning to be part of the Australian squad at the 2010 World Cup despite not playing for the Socceroos in almost two years.The 27-year-old shotstopper is enjoying an extended run in goal with English club Middlesbrough and he told the Sunday Sun he hopes regular football helps enhance his national team prospects.
Now Jones has set his sights on former club teammate Mark Schwarzer's number one Socceroos shirt.
"If you don't look as far forward as you can to get to the top then it's not worth being here," Jones said. "I've had a run of games now, I feel I've done OK, and the next step I've got to look forward to is the national team."
Jones hasn't been involved with the Socceroos since the national team got together for matches against the Netherlands and Uzbekistan last September.
Prior to that though, Jones hadn't been involved in a Pim Verbeek's selected squad.
The Middlesbrough man's last, and only, match for the Socceroos was way back in June 2007 in an infamous friendly against Uruguay where Jones's error allowed the South Americans a late winner.
But Jones feels the fact he's now playing regularly with Middlesbrough in the English Premier League gives him a good shot with the Socceroos.
"First of all I've got to get in there on a regular basis, the national team manager (Verbeek) has been good and told me I've got to be playing if I want to get in the squad," he said. "That's all you need, honesty.
"He says he's not going to pick me if I'm not playing and that's absolutely fine, you know where you stand. The next step is to get in the squad and after that you obviously want to push to get a game.
"I've been patient behind Mark before and I might just have to do that a little bit longer with the national team."
Jones, who has played every game for Boro since late January, should get another chance to impress Verbeek when Middlesbrough host champions Manchester United in the league this Saturday.
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