Tom Rogic has Ange Postecoglou 's full support after he pulled out of his Australia's World Cup showdowns for 'personal reasons.'
The 29-year-old left Celtic on a free transfer after a formidable season that saw him clinch the Premiership and named in the SPFL team of the season.
He was due to face the UAE and Peru in a playoff as they bid to make it to Qatar later this year.
But Rogic stunned Aussie football chiefs by pulling out, citing personal reasons and no further explanation has been forthcoming.
And Celtic manager Postecoglou, in an interview in his homeland, has backed his countryman to get back to his best.
He said: "Hopefully, over the next period, he gets his immediate future sorted out because he’s still got a lot of good football in him.
“I’m not sure what his next step is. I’ve left him alone.
“I’ve had a great relationship with Tom over the last few years...particularly these last 12 months,
"He felt it was time for him to move on, and I thought it was a great way for him to finish as a champion.”
Meanwhile, the former Australia boss is desperate for Graham Arnold's men to make Qatar later this year and win their play-off matches.
Postecoglou said: "Irrespective of what’s happened they’ve got two games to get to the World Cup – you can’t get any more focused than that.
"That’s what the thought process has to be around the Socceroos camp and I’m sure it is.
"Graham Arnold and the players know they’re two games away from another World Cup, and we shouldn't take them for granted.
"When you miss out that’s when you realise just how big an event it is, and I don’t want us to miss out.”
