Adam Taggart feels better placed than ever to push World Cup cause

It’s been two years since Adam Taggart last played for the Socceroos and it’s two years until the next World Cup, so the recalled striker has a narrow focus on simply performing against Lebanon in Sydney on Thursday, freed up by the comforts of home.

Taggart earned a call-up from national coach Graham Arnold on the back of 15 goals in 19 appearances for Perth Glory in the A-League this season, including his team’s only two goals against Newcastle with the Socceroos’ boss watching that cemented his place.

The 30-year-old again found the net in a 2-1 loss to the Wanderers last weekend, and having returned from four seasons playing in Korea and then Japan, Taggart felt like he was perfectly placed mentally to make the most of his opportunity.

“It’s always been something at the back of my mind,” he said of a return to the international set-up, having last played for the Socceroos in September 2022.

“Coming back to Australia was just one of those things to get back to enjoying football and scoring goals.

“I knew that if I could get back into a rhythm, then the national team is always something that all of us want to be involved in.”

Taggart said the glut of games he played in Asia took its toll and the load impeded his chances of being fit at the right times for Arnold to look his way.

But a better balance at the Glory has resulted in his best form and at the right time, with Taggart and Bruno Fornaroli, who also has 15 goals in the A-League this season, set for the scoring duties in two clashes against Lebanon in Sydney and then Canberra.

“I think playing in Asia in the four years leading up to coming back to Perth, your loads are always higher, it’s a lot harder to stay fit I found,” he said.

“That was always the