Socceroo Irvine’s breakout Championship season

2 min read 10 May 2017

Caltex Socceroos midfielder Jackson Irvine's focus has shifted to national team duty after the end of a standout English Championship season.

In a rollercoaster campaign for Burton Albion, the Caltex Socceroos playmaker was a shining light.

Albion finished in 20th place, just one point clear of the League One trap-door.

After looking odds-on for the drop after two-thirds of the season, Burton won five and drew six of their last 15 games to stave off relegation.

Irvine played 42 of his side's 46 Championship matches and won both the fans' player of the year and players' player of the year awards.

The 24-year-old also scored ten goals to collect Burton's Golden Boot.

It's been somewhat of a breakthrough period for Irvine in a Caltex Socceroos shirt, too.

In March, he earned a debut start for Australia in the 1-1 draw with Iraq, before scoring his first international goal just seven minutes into the crucial 2-0 win over the UAE in Sydney.

Irvine's recent form for club and country will have him right in the mix for the Socceroos' World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia on June 8 in Adelaide and the Confederations Cup in Russia later next month.