Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy has hailed the spirit of the national team after a successful return to national team duties.
Mooy came off the bench in the second-half of Australia's comfortable 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over China in Qatar, his first appearance for the Socceroos since 2019.
It was a low-key personal performance for the 30-year-old, who was introduced in the 69th minute with the match already won.
But simply getting back into Australian colours is an important step for Mooy, whose brother Alex died in June.
"The team spirit, the feeling when you come in here, it's an amazing feeling," Mooy told Network 10.
"It was a great performance.
"We only had two days together but the team spirit is not just built in two days, it's been built over the last however many years.
"When we get back here all together we all know each other well."
Mooy wasn't the only star returning for Australia against the disappointing Chinese, with Tom Rogic also making his first appearance in two years.
The Celtic midfielder was a dominant presence throughout, having a key hand in two of Australia's goals before being substituted late in the match.
The win was Australia's ninth consecutive success in their qualifying campaign and played in Doha with the Socceroos unable to play at home due to quarantine restrictions on overseas travellers.
Mooy hoped the performance, and result, will provide some happiness to fans back in Australia enduring COVID lockdowns.
"Hopefully they watch this and it can make life a tiny bit better," Mooy said.
"Hopefully we can keep doing the country proud."
