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Socceroos defender Cam Burgess won't dwell on his own goal against Japan as he chases club game time at Ipswich Town.
Socceroos defender Cam Burgess will quickly put his own goal against Japan behind him and focus on winning back his spot at Premier League club Ipswich Town.
Australia took the lead in Saitama on Tuesday via a horror own goal by Shogo Tanaguchi in the 58th minute, but 16 minutes later Burgess knocked a sizzling ball from Keito Nakamura into his own net.
"Maybe there was the guy (striker Ayase Ueda) behind me, so if I didn't try and do something, then I guess he'd have tapped it in," Burgess said.
"So (I have) seen it pretty late, and just, I guess, one of those unfortunate ones."
The game finished 1-1, with a point crucial to Australia's hopes of direct World Cup qualification.
Burgess otherwise thrived in coach Tony Popovic's back three alongside the excellent Jason Geria and Harry Souttar.
"For the way we're playing at the moment, it suits us," Burgess said.
"We've taken the messages on board. We've seen that the last two performances.
"It's something that a lot of us have played before throughout our careers, certainly I have, so yeah, it's positive signs."
Burgess helped Ipswich Town secure promotion to the Premier League, but is yet to play a minute in England's top flight.
"It's tough not playing football," he said.
"That's what I want to do. That's what I grew up, trying my best to do. It's tough at times.
"But it's the biggest stage in the world, the Premier League, and then to play for the national team as well, it's a huge honour.
"So to be a part of both those things is massive for me in my career.
"And it's a process, and I'm there to help the team, and when called upon I'll be ready. It's a long season and I'll be ready when my time comes."
Popovic chose to start Burgess anyway, and that faith isn't lost on the central defender, who will look to snare more game time ahead of November's qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
"I'll always try my best when I go out there," Burgess said.
"The faith to play me when maybe I haven't played for a few weeks - hopefully I can show that I've repaid that."