Socceroos rising star Tom Rogic has set the stage for a dream homecoming after firing a thunderbolt into the back of the net in Scotland just days before he returns to Canberra for a World Cup qualifier.
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But Socceroos veteran Tim Cahill says it's time for the new generation of Australian stars to stand tall and deliver on a more consistent basis after a shock "wake-up call" against Jordan last month.
Rogic is expected to arrive in the capital on Tuesday and is expected to play a major role in the Socceroos' World Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan at Canberra Stadium on Thursday.
The 22-year-old has shaken his injury woes and has wasted no time reminding coaches and fans of his prodigious talent.
He slammed home a left-foot stunner in Celtic's 4-1 rout against Ross County before flying back to where his career started as the Socceroos continue their bid for 2018 World Cup qualification.
Canberra junior Rogic, 22, is one of the brightest emerging players in Australia's ranks and has shaken the groin injury woes that ruined his World Cup dream last year.
He is starting to impress for Celtic and is finding his feet in the international arena again as the Socceroos turn their eyes to the future beyond Cahill.
The challenge, according to Cahill, is making sure players like Rogic shine on regular occasions.
"We want boys to be consistent, we don't need them to want a moment once," Cahill said.
"With any sort of soccer player, it's about professionalism and how many times you can back it up, what noises are they making overseas or in the A-League and use that momentum to get better.
"I definitely won't get carried away because progression comes with consistency. With consistency comes a basis of building your name and also the stature of you as a footballer.
"For us, they need to get consistency in doing well for the Socceroos on a regular basis. And none of them can really be assessed properly until after 30 or 40 games domestically and internationally, which is the key.
"My whole life I've been involved in World Cup campaigns and Socceroos and domestic achievements, but unless it's consistent, it doesn't mean anything."
The Socceroos were expected to go through their group unbeaten, but must win all four remaining matches to progress to the next stage after losing to Jordan 2-0.
Cahill said that result would ensure any complacency was erased from the players' minds as they faced a tricky task against Kyrgyzstan and then Bangladesh in Dhaka next week.
"We had a wake-up call against Jordan, which is probably something we needed," Cahill said.
"You don't like the wake-up call, but it has to galvanise you either way. A lot of boys got their opportunity that they've been waiting for a long time and it didn't come off that night.
"We're under a little bit of pressure, but it's nothing we haven't faced in the past. We can only put it right by getting a win."
Next week marks 10 years since a team of Socceroos legends broke a 32-year World Cup drought by beating Uruguay to qualify for the tournament in Germany.
Cahill is one of the only remaining links to a golden era that changed the future of Australian soccer.
But he said the Socceroos' triumph in the Asian Cup earlier this year was proof that Australia had moved on from the magic moment of beating Uruguay on November 16, 2005 to secure a World Cup berth.
"I think we've already [made our own mark]. We won an Asian Cup with one of the youngest squads ever and we're on a great World Cup campaign," he said.
"We've lost one game and it's not panic stations. We're looking forward and I hope we can put it right as soon as possible."
WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Thursday: Socceroos v Kyrgyzstan at Canberra Stadium, 8pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
