Newly crowned PFA Harry Kewell Medalist Lucas Herrington is preparing to play in front of his home Queensland fans for the first time in a CommBank Socceroos jersey as the side faces Brazil in Townsville and Brisbane this week.
The Socceroos defender touched on just how important that would be, as well as giving insights into his season at Premier League club Hull City as he spoke to media on Wednesday.
Winning the Austraffic PFA Young Men's Footballer of the Year Award
I'm very grateful to receive the award from my peers, opposition, players that I've played with. So, no, it's very nice, very grateful. I know it means a lot to Australia, so I'm very happy to receive it.
Playing in Queensland
It should be awesome. I mean, I know there's a big football community out here, so it's nice to be here with the Socceroos because I've always been a fan watching the Socceroos from Brisbane. So now I can't wait to hopefully get that opportunity to play in front of my home crowd for the Socceroos. It's always been a dream of mine.
It's pretty crazy [since playing for the Roar]. A lot has happened in those 10 months, so it has flown by. A lot of things have happened for me. So it's been a great journey for me. I've loved every minute of it. Just trying to stay humble, keep working hard and just enjoy the journey.
I've got lots of family and friends coming to hopefully see me play against a great opposition as well. It doesn't get much better than Brazil international-wise. So, I think all the boys are up for it. I'm up for it. The coaching staff are ready. And I think Brisbane's ready, and all of Queensland for that Townsville game as well. So, no, I can't wait. I can't wait to hopefully pull on the jersey and just enjoy that moment.
Suncorp's obviously a very special stadium for me. My first season at the Roar, it was my debut stadium. So I can't wait to be back out there in Australian colours in front of hopefully a packed out crowd. It's a great stadium to see sold out. I can't wait.
Playing in the Premier League for Hull City
Yeah, it's been awesome. I think it's the best league in the world, so to be able to experience it at 18 and 19 has been so special for me. I've learnt a lot about myself, about my teammates, and it's just been such a great experience for me to see up and close what it's really like to be around the best professionals in the world, the best players in the world. I can't complain at all. It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid to play in the Premier League, so to do that right now has been awesome and I can't wait for more.
The players and their calibre is hard to ignore in the Premier League. It's where the best players go to play. So to be experienced, to experience that day in, day out with the facilities, and the staff has been great. I've loved every minute of my time in Hull and, yeah, I'm just really enjoying it.
Adapting to new environments
I've had to work and adapt to every scenario, from Brisbane to Colorado to Socceroos to the EPL. It's all different environments, different training environments. I have to adapt to them all. But at the end of the day, it's just football. I just love to play football. I enjoy playing football. So wherever I can, I'm just going to put my best foot forward, work hard and just enjoy it.
Influence of Tony Popovic
He was the national team coach that gave me my debut for the national team, so I've got a lot to repay him for. Being a centre-back, he helps a lot on the field. There's little tips here and there, but every time I come into camp, I learn a lot, so I'm very happy to be here.
[His advice has been] just being patient, defending wise on the ball and just waiting for that opportunity really and being ready. It's a great squad we've got here, a lot of depth. It's just about, being patient with your opportunity and just working hard to be ready to take it.
Taking on Brazil
I'm excited. All the boys are excited. And we all can't wait for the game. So, it should be a great two games, and hopefully we can get some good results.