Melbourne City star Mathew Leckie’s latest bid to return to the Socceroos has been cruelled by a hamstring issue along with the busted nose suffered in the A-League Men grand final.

Leckie won the Joe Marston Medal as player of the match in City’s 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory on Saturday night, despite having his nose splattered across his face after copping an accidental boot early in the second half.

A battered Leckie confirmed after his heroic performance that he had been called up, for the first time under Tony Popovic, for crunch World Cup qualifiers against Japan in Perth on June 5 and against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah five days later.

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But the 2022 World Cup hero had to pull out of the squad — between both requiring assessment on his face in Melbourne on Monday and a fresh soft tissue injury.

The 34-year-old revealed he had suffered a hamstring injury on Tuesday and had carried it into Saturday’s decider, when he starred at defensive midfield, showcasing his grit and versatility.

“I was selected for the national team but now I’m not sure. There’s a good chance I won’t go because of this,” he said.

“But also on Tuesday, I hurt my hamstring, so I basically played with a strained hamstring.

“It was minor but we didn’t get it scanned. I didn’t want to know (how) it was.

“I just wanted to get through Friday’s session. It didn’t feel too bad. And then with medication and stuff (I could play).”

Leckie hasn’t played for Australia since the June 2024 win over Palestine, when Graham Arnold was still coach.

“I want to be there. I really do,” he said.

“I’ve always said that I love the national team. I love representing Australia.

“But obviously over the last two years, my body’s just been a lot of dramas with injuries.

“And as much as I would like to be there, what’s happening now with this and recently with my leg, I really, really think I do need just a really good break. And hopefully it all works out for next season.

“Just have a nice break, get through the pre-season — because I need a good pre-season, not just stop-start. Because I was back four or five times this year.

“I need consistency. My body needs game time, and hopefully with a really good break that’ll happen.”

He hopes that getting his body right can deliver the consistent form to make a run at a potential fourth World Cup.

“I need to play a really good season to give myself a chance,” he said.

“If I’m playing, I’m healthy, playing well, that’s what’s gonna keep an opportunity to potentially compete.”

Leckie could at least soak up his first championship win.

“It feels unbelievable,” he said.

“I was saying, if we had lost this game and I walked away looking like this, then I would get devastated. It’s all worth it.

“Now we’ve made another special moment where, when I finish my career, I can look back on and I’ve probably got scars that’ll remind me as well.”

Socceroos squad

Melbourne City teammates Marco Tilio, Kai Trewin and Aziz Behich were called up to the Socceroos and on a 10am flight to Perth on Sunday morning, missing City’s trophy celebration’s at AAMI Park.

Dynamic winger Tilio was called into camp under Popovic for the first time in March but didn’t take the field — and hasn’t had minutes since January 2024.

But the 23-year-old has a point to prove.

“I want to do everything I can to help the team qualify for another World Cup,” Tilio said.

“I took everything in from last camp and put myself in the position now where I feel I’m better for it.

“I just want to execute everything that I know that I can, and put myself in the position to hopefully be in the squad and play ... It’s been a while since I’ve actually stepped on the field for the national team.

“So I think it’s at that time now that I put myself in a position to play well, get an opportunity to do well, and hopefully, sort of cement a spot in there.”

Popovic has named fit-again defender Alessandro Circati as part of his extended 26-man squad.

Classy central defender Circati ruptured his ACL last September, but has made a remarkable return for Serie A club Parma.

Australia (13 points) sit second in the qualifying group, behind Japan and three points plus goal difference ahead of Saudi Arabia.

The top two in the group will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, and Australia can guarantee their place if they beat Japan.

Classy central defender Circati ruptured his ACL last September, but has made a remarkable return for Serie A club Parma.

Australia squad: Daniel Arzani, Aziz Behich, Brandon Borrello, Kasey Bos, Martin Boyle, Cameron Burgess, Anthony Caceres, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Mitchell Duke, Joe Gauci, Jason Geria, Paul Izzo, Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Lewis Miller, Paul Okon-Engstler, Aiden O’Neill, Kye Rowles, Mat Ryan, Mohamed Toure, Adam Taggart, Ryan Teague, Marco Tilio, Kai Trewin, Patrick Yazbek.