The update says Leckie’s season was disrupted by persistent hamstring trouble and that he underwent hip surgery in December in a bid to fix the issue. At one stage, the national team was not even part of the conversation in his own mind.
“For me, the first point was to just try to get back fit and playing, so rather than even considering the national team, the goal was to get back fit,” Leckie said.
That is what makes this comeback feel significant. It has not been built on hype or reputation alone. It appears to have come through a strong late push with Melbourne City and valuable time in camp under Tony Popovic.
Leckie’s appeal has always gone beyond one position. He can stretch a game wide, press hard, track runners and adapt to different systems. For an international manager, that kind of flexibility is gold.
“For me, I do not really have a preference,” Leckie said. “I like both positions in different ways, and I understand the responsibility of both. So, for me, wherever he thinks I can help the team, I will play there.”
That mindset should help him. Popovic appears to value reliability and structure, and Leckie has long offered both.
At 34, Leckie is not chasing a romantic farewell. He is trying to prove he can still contribute. The report says a fourth World Cup remains a possibility, which would put him in rare company for the Socceroos.
Leckie himself struck the right note, calling that prospect “quite unbelievable” but adding there was still “a long way to go”. That is the real story now: not nostalgia, but whether he can keep building fitness and force his way from hopeful returnee into genuine tournament option when Australia’s next big selection calls arrive.