Mooy relishing his freedom from Wanderers shackles

Gifted midfielder Aaron Mooy attributes his rapid rise to Socceroos stardom to his decision to leave Western Sydney Wanderers where he felt restricted by tactical duties.

Aaron Mooy was in sparkling form against Kyrgyzstan Source: Getty Images

Melbourne City's Mooy is fast emerging as a star in the national team after taking to international football like a fish to water.

He was in sparkling form in the Socceroos' comfortable 3-0 win over Kyrgyzstan in Canberra in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier the home team had to win at all costs.

He and Massimo Luongo bossed the offensive side of midfield and he caught the eye with a series of superlative weighted passes into space, one of which drew the Socceroos' second goal scored by Tim Cahill.

Mooy is happy to finally be able to show his creative capacity after being forced to perform defensive duties by Wanderers coach Tony Popovic during a two-season spell from 2012.

"The freedom I have now at club and national level is bringing the best out of my game, definitely," Mooy said later.

"When I was at the Wanderers I was playing defensive midfield and was not allowed to get forward.

"Since I went to Melbourne City I was encouraged to attack which is what I like to do."

Mooy said he loved scoring goals but providing assists was equally satisfying.

"I'm a midfielder and creating chances for others is my job," he said.

"When a striker puts it away it feels good. As a midfielder it gives me as much pleasure to create a goal. It is as if I've scored it myself.

"We played a good game today and created lots of chances."

Mooy is hot favourite to retain his position in the Socceroos' next qualifying match against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Tuesday night (AEDT).