AUSTRALIA'S interest in James Meredith is no flash in the pan, insisted national boss Ange Postecoglou.

The uncapped City left back was called up yesterday for next month’s World Cup qualifier in Jordan – his first involvement in the international set-up.

Phil Parkinson admitted he was surprised it had taken so long for the 27-year-old’s club form to be acknowledged by the Socceroos.

But Postecoglou revealed that Meredith had been on their radar since he was first made aware of him soon after taking the national job in 2013.

The Australian coach said: “When I first got the job we cast the net pretty far and wide and he’s one that came across my path fairly early.

“We’ve been following him ever since. He plays as a left fullback and I still think the fullback positions are an area where we don’t have enough depth as other areas of the park.

“It’s served us well in the past to bring guys in and have a look at them in our environment and see how they fit in and he gets an opportunity to do that for this game.”

Australia have a score to settle after losing in Jordan before the last World Cup and this is regarded as the toughest game of their first qualifying group.

Meredith is not expected to start but Postecoglou said he would have no reservations about blooding him in such a potentially hostile atmosphere.

He added: “I wouldn’t have brought him in if I didn’t think I wouldn’t throw him in if the opportunity arose.

“What we do is bring them into the environment and get them to have a look at it and see how they fit in. It’s unlikely I’ll throw him in but it’s happened in the past where if we get caught short in that area he may have to be thrown in and be ready.

"We still need a bit more depth in our fullback areas so James has a chance to impress and show us he can add something to our rapidly increasing pool of players.

“The good thing is he’s playing, he’s fit, he’s playing well and it gives us an option.”

Parkinson believes Meredith has fully earned the nod for the Jordan trip which takes place on Thursday, October 8.

The City chief said: “He is an excellent player for us, not just in what he does on the pitch but the way he trains so hard every day.”

Meredith, one of 18 overseas players in the Australian squad, will miss City’s JPT home clash with Barnsley two days earlier and is unlikely to be back in time to be considered for the Blackpool league game the following weekend.