Country Call-Up For Chris

Colchester United defender Chris Coyne has been on international duty this week, as Australia took on Ghana as preparation for next month's World Cup qualifiers.

Coyne, the U's record-signing, was given a late call-up to the Socceroos 35-man squad. The 29-year-old former Luton Town man will be hoping to be named in Pim Verbeek's travelling party for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Iraq, Qatar and Dubai.

Coyne told www.footballaustralia.com.au.: "It's been nice; it's always been one of my aspirations in the game to represent my country.

'I think it should be everyone's aspiration and pinnacle of their career and to be given the opportunity to come and train with the boys for the week and see how it goes is fantastic.'

Coyne has had to wait a long time for his chance to play on the international stage, he started out with West ham before a spell in Scotland with Dundee before returning to England with Luton. In January, Coyne left the financially troubled Hatters for £350,000 but could not stop the U's from being relegated to League One.

He continued: 'It has been a long time coming - 7-8 years now - but I have been pushing and working hard in Europe to try and get some sort of recognition and I am now fortunate enough that my transfer to Colchester seemed to give me that back over here in Australia.

'I went from West Ham to Dundee in the Scottish Premier League and the went to Luton who were in the 2nd Division (League Two) at the time. They were spending money at the time to go back up, which we did immediately.

'But we worked hard to get up to the Championship; I think it took three years in League One. Down there you really struggle for recognition, because it`s obviously not publicised as much as the Premier League and Championship.'

Coyne revealed he is ready to stay in North Essex and help the U's win promotion back to the Championship: 'Its up to me to get back there, roll my sleeves up and make sure we get promoted back there (to the Championship) next year.'

Vital Colchester would like to congratulate Chris on has call-up.