Jedinak won't let club ban dilute impact for country

Australia captain Mile Jedinak has shrugged off the setback of his four-match English Premier League ban, vowing to be in mint condition for this month’s duels against world champion Germany and FYR Macedonia.

Jedinak, who led the Socceroos to glory in January's AFC Asian Cup final, has played just one league game since returning to his club Crystal Palace last month, initially recovering from an ankle injury then picking up the hefty suspension for violent conduct.

But the key midfielder isn’t letting the incident – an out-of-character elbow on West Ham United’s Diafra Sakho – cloud his preparations for Australia’s first games since becoming champion of Asia in Kauserslautern on 26 March (AEDT) and Skopje five days later.

“It’s not ideal having not played regularly for a little while, but I’ve been working really hard to get myself ready - and I will be," said the Eagles captain.

“I’ll be as strong as I can and make as much of an impact as I can – that’s my sole focus at the moment."

Jedinak still has misgivings over the penalty meted out by the FA, but is keen to put the episode behind him.

“It’s unfortunate. Do I agree with it (the ban)? Probably not, but you have to move on and I pretty much did that as soon as it was done and dusted.

"My mind hs been on helping the boys in and around the Palace training ground and on making sure I am right for the national team.”

Asked if he should have fought the suspension, Jedinak replied: “You have a bit if discussion with the right people about that and it was decided to draw a line under it and move forward and that’s what I’ve been doing.

“It’s been quite bizarre not being involved with the team. We’ve had three home games since I’ve been back and I haven’t been involved in any of them. That’s a surreal experience for me.

“But I am there giving some advice and a few last minute pointers. So you try and influence things in that way.”

Jedinak believes Australia can go a long way to producing a performance which could emulate the feats of 2011 when it stunned Joachim Low’s side 2-1 in Monchengladbach.

“We’re on a high from the Asian Cup and they are the world champions, so we’ll be measuring ourselves against the best," he said.

“They are going to be two very different games (Germany and Macedonia) but they will show how we are tracking and where we need to be."

Germany, which lies second in Group D of Euro 2105 qualifying behind Poland, is using the fixture against Australia to prepare for a qualifier in Georgia four days later.

"They are going to be right up for it, as will Macedonia, and you wouldn’t expect anything less," added Jedinak.

"One of big things I’ve learned in football is that you can’t be too intimated by anybody. For us it will be about the performances and also the results … but we’re going over there full of belief and it’s going to be all about World Cup qualifying after that."

Jedinak views Asian Cup triumph as just the opening chapter in an unfolding success story.

“We were the best team in the tournament and that was the most satisfying thing," he said.  "It's really just the start for this team. We're putting the building blocks in place going forward, and trying to go to the next level.

“By no means are we waiting around for that to happen, we’ll be pushing each other as hard as ever. That’s the mentality in the squad.

“It’s yet another huge period for the national team.  It’s an exciting time for us.”

Jedinak welcomes the inclusion of coach Ange Postecoglou's new faces – Lazio rookie Chris Ikonomidis, Brisbane Roar's Luke DeVere and Adelaide’s Tarek Elrich.

“It will be good to see them all up close and personal and seeing how they respond,” he said.

He admits to knowing little of attacking midfielder Ikonomidis, who has made steady progress in Rome with Lazio’s second string side and is knocking on the door of the first team.

“He's a kid plying his trade in a tough environment, and he’s obviously doing great things there and has been grabbing a lot of attention," he declared.

“It’s no surprise that amid that he is ticking all the right boxes and is getting an opportunity … I am looking forward to seeing what he's about.

“With the boss, he doesn’t hold back in looking at players and giving untried a chance.

“We have some World Cup qualifiers coming up in June and now is a good time because the pressure of three points isn’t going to be there."