Tough day for Aussies abroad as Irvine, Kruse, Leckie and Borrello all on losing side

It was a tough day at the office for Australians Jackson Irvine, Robbie Kruse, Mathew Leckie and Brandon Borrello all lost their respective matches in Europe.

(Left) Jackson Irvine against Chelsea, (right) Mathew Leckie against Mainz. Source: Getty Images

Jackson Irvine

Socceroos midfielder Jackson Irvine was in the thick of the action as Hull City took on English powerhouse Chelsea in the FA Cup, having four shots and picking up a yellow card. 

But there was little he could do about a rampaging Chelsea that ran out 4-0 winners. 

Robbie Kruse

Socceroos winger Robbie Kruse played 72 minutes for Bochum as they lost 1-0 to FC Heidenheim in Germany's second division. 

The result means that once the teams below Bochum play their catch up games they could be in the relegation zone. 

Kruse has scored four goals in 19 matches this season.

Mathew Leckie

Another Socceroos winger, Mathew Leckie, came off the bench in the 72nd minute with his Hertha Berlin side already 2-0 down to FSV Mainz in the Bundesliga and was unable to have an impact on the score.

Leckie started the season off well, scoring four goals in his first five matches, but has come off the bench in his last four matches. 

Hertha sit in 11th position, seven points off the relegation zone.

Brandon Borrello

One Australian who is yet to make his senior national team debut but is pushing for a Socceroos spot ahead of the FIFA World Cup in June is Brandon Borrello. 

The former Brisbane Roar attacker played the full 90 minutes as his Kaiserslautern side lost 1-0 to Sandhausen. 

Kaiserslautern are at the bottom of the German second division, however Borrello is now getting regular starts.

This morning's match was the fifth match in a row he played the full 90 minutes, while he has four assists and one goal in his last seven matches.