The in-form Aussie powering Burton Albion
With seven goals from 18 games for Burton Albion, midfielder Jackson Irvine is the best-performed 'Aussie Abroad' this season as he sets about guiding his team to safety in the EFL Championship.
When Australia midfielder Jackson Irvine arrived at newly promoted Burton Albion as its record signing, it was more for his grit and graft than his goals.
After netting just six times in 106 games in the Scottish Premiership, the 23 year-old from Melbourne wasn’t expected to break any records when it came to his finishing prowess.
But seven goals in 17 starts this season have seen Irvine morph into a cult figure at 6,912-capacity Pirelli Stadium; with his haul a third of the Midlands club’s entire tally for the season that has it placed three points above the Championship drop zone.
The top scorers in the EFL Championship:
Ultimately, it could be Irvine – and his emerging eye for goal – which could keep Nigel Clough's men up.
Fresh from scoring for the second successive game in last weekend’s crucial 2-1 win over bottom club Rotherham, Irvine knows that fans, teammates and coaching staff alike now expect, rather than simply hope, that he will keep on delivering.
“Before the season started I had targeted six to eight goals, now I am aiming for double figures,” said Irvine, who will be hoping to continue his recent run against Brentford on Sunday (AEDT).
“The licence (to get forward) the boss he's given me has freed me up and there's that expectation now for me to be the one who arrives late in the box and creates and scores goals, fortunately it's worked out well so far.
“I've always backed myself that wherever I go I'd be able to prove myself and Nigel Clough has shown great faith in me here.
“He and his assistant Andy Garner were top strikers in their day and they always have plenty of advice to give on finishing.”
While others are now pinning their faith in Irvine to pull a rabbit from the hat wherever he plays, he knows how fickle and elusive the art of scoring can be.
“I scored five in six or seven games at the start of the season then went eight without goal. Now I have two on the bounce again," he said. “You go through these patches and it's almost guaranteed it will come again when they dry up and you just have to stay patient and wait for the next opportunity to come.
"The really pleasing thing for me is that apart from the goals, I think I’ve been contributing in other areas too and that’s been really satisfying."
The former Celtic, Kilmarnock and Ross County workhorse has yet to grasp a starting spot for Australia, but should the goals continue to flow, Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou will face an increasingly prickly, through pleasing, dilemma as he assess the merits of his midfielders.
Irvine, meanwhile, is more concerned with helping Burton avoid an instant return to League 1.
“Our immediate goal is survival and to chip away and reach the 50 point mark which will guarantee safety,” he said. “There's no ego in the dressing room. We all realise it's a tough season and a tough position for the club.
“A year and a half ago this club was pushing for promotion from League Two, they then reached League One for the first time and in eight days Newcastle will be coming to our ground to play a league game .
“I am sure there will be a few 'pinch yourself' moments when that happens. There have a few already on the club’s journey to get to where we are now.”
