Inman returns with Socceroos spot in mind

Peterborough United attacking midfielder Bradden Inman is finally over the injury hell that kept him sidelined for months and is back in action targeting a return to Australia calculations.

Bradden Inman in action for Crewe Source: Getty Images

Inman was one of four uncapped players selected in Australia's squad for the game against England in May after a stellar season with Crewe Alexandria.

While the playmaker didn't earn his maiden cap at the Stadium of Light, his club performances earned him a move to Peterborough and a Socceroos breakthrough appeared close.

But just as the stars appeared to be aligning for Inman, the 25-year-old broke his leg in July during pre-season training with his new club in a disastrous start to life at Peterborough.

The injury put him out of action for the first half of the 2016-2017 season and knocked him down the national team pecking order once more.

In December, Inman finally made his debut for the Posh and he is now hungry for more.

"I had the bad injury at the start of the season which was kind of hard to take," he admitted.

"But now I've been fit for four to six weeks. Now I've played four or five under-23 games and I've made four of five first-team appearances, I haven't started yet. But now it's for me to kick on and get into the starting eleven.

"I missed the feeling of playing. But I'm glad it happened at the start of the season rather than towards the end.

"I was just glad to get out there and hopefully help the team."

Adelaide-born Inman, who previously represented Scotland at Under-19 and Under-21 levels, said he enjoyed his time in camp with the Socceroos in Sunderland last year, which gave him an insight into life with the national team under coach Ange Postecoglou.

"It was good to meet the lads and the boss," he said.

"The training was good. I didn't come on but it was a good experience for me and hopefully I can get many more in the future.

"If I do well for Peterborough then the rewards will come with the Socceroos. My focus is just to get Peterborough promoted.

"If I can do it ... Ange watches a lot of games and that would definitely catch his eye. It's good for the players knowing that he will watch a lot of our games.

"While you do well for your team, at the same time you can impress him as well."

Peterborough currently sit in eighth spot on the League One table, just four points below the play-off places.

The Posh have been in League One for the past three-and-a-half years after relegation from the Championship.

Inman is confident his side have the players to go on a run and push for promotion.

"We've been around the play-offs pretty much all season so far," he said.

"All it takes is one win and then the momentum starts and if you can put four or five wins on the trot we could be up to third in this league.

"We've done well up to now we just need to go up that extra gear if we want to get promoted. We feel like we can beat any team in the league."