Aussies In Europe: Scott McDonald Reminds Pim Verbeek Of His Quality

Harry Kewell (Galatasaray, Turkey)

Played a full game and opened the scoring in his side’s 3-0 away win over Dinamo Bucuresti in the Europa League in midweek, his fine finish helping to secure their place in the next stage of the competition. Then backed up with a full game at the weekend as Gala moved to within three points of league leaders Fenerbahce with a 2-1 away win over Diyarbakirspor.

Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill (Everton, England)

Neill wasn’t on the bench for the midweek home defeat to Benfica in the Europa League, a 2-0 loss leaving Everton’s chances of progression hanging in the balance. Cahill played a full game there before doing so to greater effect away against West Ham at the weekend, where he set up his side’s first goal and was involved in the build-up to the second as they scored a first league win in five games. Neill was a late substitute on the return to his old club.

Mark Schwarzer (Fulham, England)

Endured a goalkeeping battle with his opposite number Chris Kirkland in a 1-1 draw at Wigan, where a series of outstanding stops by the Australian – one in particular from a long range N’Zogbia strike – allowed his 11th placed side to return to London with a point. Almost did the same in Rome in the Europa League in midweek, where his nine-man side were eventually beaten 2-1 by Roma.

Brett Emerton, Vince Grella (Blackburn Rovers, England)

A full game for Emerton in the crucial 3-1 home win over Portsmouth, though Grella remained an unused substitute.

Mark Bresciano (Palermo, Italy)

Was replaced in the 63rd minute of the 3-1 away defeat to Bologna.

Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow, Russia)

Played a full game as his side stayed in mid-table with a 4-2 away win over Spartak Nalchik.

Scott McDonald (Celtic, Scotland)

Served a reminder of his quality to Australia boss Pim Verbeek, after being left entirely out of the Dutchman’s squad for the Asian Cup Qualifier with Oman, bagging a brace off the bench in the 3-3 draw away against Falkirk. It was the perfect response by the striker to being replaced in the scoreless Europa League draw away against Hamburg in midweek, where he missed two important first half opportunities.

Richard Garcia (Hull City, England)

Played 52 minutes of his side’s huge 2-1 win at home against Stoke City and it was a busy performance from the striker, who had a couple of half-chances as he returns to full fitness.

Brad Jones, Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough, England)

Full games for both as Borough lost their second game under new boss Gordon Strachan, 1-0 away against Crystal Palace.

Nick Carle (Crystal Palace, England)

An 81st minute substitute in the home win over Borough.

Adam Federici (Reading, England)

Played a full game as Reading continued to search for their first home win of the league season, held to a 1-1 draw by Ipswich.

Shane Lowry (Plymouth Argyle, England)

Played a full game as his side scored a 2-1 home win over Doncaster Rovers and came close to getting on the score-sheet himself with a header.

Ruben Zadkovich (Derby County, England)

Didn’t make the bench as Nigel Clough’s side won 2-1 at home against Coventry.

Patrick Kisnorbo, Neil Kilkenny (Leeds United, England)

Full games for both Aussies as Leeds secured their place in the FA Cup second round with a 2-0 win away against Oldham Athletic.

Michael Theoklitos (Norwich City, England)

On the bench for the 7-0 FA Cup win away against Paulton Rovers.

Oliver Bozanic (Cheltenham Town, England)

Hasn’t returned yet to action fro injury and missed the 3-1 FA Cup loss away against Torquay United.

Carl Valeri (Grossetto, Italy)

Wasn’t in the squad for the scoreless draw away to Vicenza.

Brett Holman, James Holland (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands)

A full game for Holman, who scored the equalizer in a 1-1 draw at home to giants Feyenoord, Holland not amongst the substitutes.

Nikita Rukavytsya, David Carney (FC Twente, Netherlands)

Carney was a substitute at half-time in the 1-0 home win over Ajax Amsterdam that keeps Twente at the top of the Eredivisie table, Rukavytsya wasn’t in the squad though.

Dario Vidosic, Matthew Spiranovic (Nurnberg, Germany)

Vidosic was introduced as a second half substitute in the 1-0 loss away against Mainz, Spiranovic again not in the squad.

Bruce Djite (Genclerbirligi, Turkey)

Wasn’t in the squad for the 2-1 win away against Bursaspor.

Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor, Turkey)

Played a full game in the 1-0 loss away against Istanbul Buyuksehir.

James Troisi (Kayserispor, Turkey)

Was a last minute substitute in the 4-2 win at Sivasspor.

Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor, Turkey)

Conceded four times as his side were beaten at home by Kasyerispor.

Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel, Switzerland)

Played a full game in the 3-1 home win over CSAKA Sofia in the Europa League in midweek before scoring the opening goal in a 4-1 victory at home against Neuchatel Xamax in the league.

Ante Covic (Elfsborg, Sweden)

Kept a clean sheet as his side beat Helsingborg 1-0 at home.

Nathan Burns (Kerkyra, Greece)

Played another full game and helped his side score an important 2-1 away win over Diagoras, a result that takes them to the top of the Greek second tier.

Trent McClenahan, James Wesolowski (Hamilton, Scotland)

Both played full games, Wesolowski setting up his side’s second goal before they conceded a late equalizer in a dramatic 2-2 draw at home with Motherwell.

Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com

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