By Marco Monteverde

Copyright news

The former Sydney FC star was part of the Socceroos squad for this month two games against New Zealand but wasn’t used it either of Australia’s wins.

Following the two-match series, Socceroos coach Tony Popovic urged Segecic to “keep working”.

“He’s had a taste of the Socceroos now in camp, and he has to go back to his club and work like all the other players, keep performing well, and we’ll see for the next camp (next month),” Popovic said.

And ahead of Pompey’s English Championship home clash against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday morning (AEST), Segecic said that was what he intended to do.

“I’ve got a couple of goals and the form that the whole team are enjoying has definitely helped me to settle here, but I know that there is still a long way to go this season, and I have to keep working hard to help the side,” the 21-year-old attacker told the Portsmouth website.

“The mood is really high at the moment and everyone’s feeling confident ahead of our return to Fratton Park.

“We have to use that to try to secure all three points because that can take us to an even stronger position in the table.”

Portsmouth, whose squad also includes three other Australian players in defenders Hayden Matthews and Jacob Farrell, and striker Thomas Waddingham, is ninth on the English Championship ladder after last weekend’s 0-0 derby draw with Southampton.

“The boys produced a really good performance in the derby last week to pick up another decent point,” Segecic said.

Meanwhile, fresh from his two-goal performance to help Swansea City knock Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest out of the English League Cup, Socceroos defender Cameron Burgess is hoping side can continue its winning form in an away clash against Birmingham City on Saturday night (AEST).

“Now we have to continue to work hard,” Burgess said.

Swansea is in seventh spot on the English Championship ladder, four places ahead of Birmingham.