‘Concerned’ Australia boss reveals he HAS heard from Tom Rogic as he waxes lyrical about Aaron Mooy’s Celtic switch
AUSTRALIA boss Graham Arnold has confirmed he HAS heard from Tom Rogic.
The Socceroos coach previously revealed his concern for the former Celtic ace after he didn't receive a reply when he contacted him.
Rogic, who departed Parkhead at the end of last season, withdrew from the squad for Australia's crunch World Cup qualifiers at the start of June for personal reasons.
At the beginning of this month, Arnold revealed he was worried about the 29-year old.
He said back on July 5: "I haven’t read anything, I haven’t seen anything, I texted him and didn’t get a reply.
"I am concerned about Tommy but I know the PFA are looking into it."
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Rogic was subsequently spotted in Sydney the following week, although Arnold revealed he still hadn't had any contact.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, meanwhile, moved to shut down talks of any concern over the midfielder's welfare, insisting he was fine.
The former Hoops favourite finally broke his social media silence yesterday.
He posted a good luck message to his Aussie teammate Aaron Mooy, who has just joined Celtic himself.
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Arnold has now revealed that he HAS had contact from Rogic - albeit brief.
He told The Age: “I get asked about whether I’ve heard from him, but understand I leave him alone as well.
“I know what Tommy’s like, I’ve known Tommy since 2010-11. I’m not pestering him and not sending him texts all the time.
"I sent one text quite a while ago to make sure that he was OK mentally and everything was fine.
"He replied, yes. And that’s it.
“I’m not his agent, I’m not his decision-maker of what career he chooses – that’s always the individual. I’m here to give advice, if advice is necessary. But at the end of the day it’s up to Tommy and his agent to find what’s best for Tommy and me as the national team coach, works with him from that.”
Arnold also addressed Mooy's move to Celtic, and believes it'll benefit the national team as they prepare for the World Cup.
He's thrilled that the 31-year old ex-Huddersfield star is walking in to an environment he'll be able to quickly adapt to.
Arnold added: “We all know that Ange will get the best out of Aaron, and get him fit and ready.
“It’s just great that he’s going to a club where they’re playing in the Champions League, and he’s going to get plenty of match minutes up there. Obviously they’re a good team, Celtic, and he’ll have his work cut out to get him in the starting XI, of course.
“But the fact that he’s going to be playing a lot of football before the World Cup is a relief for myself and, no doubt, all the Socceroo fans back here in Australia to know that Aaron’s got his club future sorted out.
“He knows what to expect with Ange and Ange knows his game.
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“Instead of a new player walking into a new club with a new coach who doesn’t really know his mindset and his character and qualities that well – it can take time for that new coach to get to know him. But he’s walking in on the other side of it, where the coach is very familiar with him, knows exactly what he’s getting.
“With better fitness, with more match rhythm, and under Ange, I expect that when he walks into Qatar he’ll be the leader that we need on the field.”
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