Football
Jason Dasey 6y

Tom Rogic 'good to play with' for Socceroos - Aaron Mooy

Aaron Mooy says he enjoys playing with Tom Rogic and hopes that the British-based pair can inspire the Socceroos to victory over Honduras in next month's 2018 World Cup playoff.

The two attacking midfielders combined well in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Syria in the AFC playoff, proving a point to sceptics who say they can't play effectively together.

Mooy started on the bench, but was thrust into the game in the 11th minute after Brad Smith broke down with a leg injury. It meant that he, Rogic and James Troisi all operated as playmakers behind two-goal hero Tim Cahill in a more advanced position.

"It was a strange thing, but it can happen. I did the shortest warm-up of all time and just got on with it, and tried to get into the game," Mooy, who's earned 29 caps since 2012, told ESPN FC.

"It's good to play with Tom. He's a great player, a great talent. The better we can link up, the more attacks the strikers should get, so it's good that we're doing that."

Mooy will now turn his attentions to Saturday's match in the Premier League, as Huddersfield Town travel away to face Swansea City.

The 27-year-old, who was Huddersfield's 2016-17 player of the year, admits that the 120-minute struggle with Syria took a big physical toll coming so soon after last Thursday's first leg in Malaysia.

"[I'm not ready] right now, but we've still got a month away, " Mooy said when asked about the inter-confederation playoff with the Hondurans on Nov. 6 (away) and Nov. 14 (home).

"We'll go back to our clubs, get on with our lives, and work hard. It will come around quick, I'm sure."

Mooy provided the square ball to Robbie Kruse, whose first-time cross created Cahill's winning goal in extra time against the Syrians for a 3-2 triumph on aggregate. He added that Cahill's contributions at his age -- he turns 38 in December -- are "unbelievable".

"He's obviously a legend for the Socceroos," Mooy said.

"He comes up with these big moments when we need him and [that] was another one, it's unbelievable."

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