TOM Rogic scored a timely scorcher for Celtic to underline his potential importance to the Socceroos at June’s FIFA World Cup.

The attacking midfielder fended off several Rangers challenges to equalise with a curling 20-metre effort in the Old Firm derby on Monday morning which Celtic won 3-2.

It’s Rogic’s first goal since September, having just returned from injury and capped off a solid week for Aussies abroad ahead of the Norway and Colombia friendlies later this month.

Two players who missed out on Bert van Marwijk’s 29-man squad also made statements with an eye on June, with Ajdin Hrustic netting his first goal of the season for Groningen’s win over PEC Zwolle while Brandon Borrello continued his stunning form for Germans Kaiserslautern with an assist.

Van Marwijk will trim his squad to between 23-25 on Wednesday and fringe striker Jamie Maclaren made a compelling case for inclusion, netting for Hibernian in their win over Hearts.

Aaron Mooy made a timely return from a knee injury for Huddersfield Town as they secured a crucial point against Swansea to stay four points above the relegation zone.

Defender Trent Sainsbury failed to make Grasshopper Zurich’s teamsheet, leaving him as a long-shot to feature in the Norway and Colombia games, while Tomi Juric played 15 minutes of Luzern’s 1-0 win over Basel.

In a strong weekend for the Socceroos’ other prime movers, with Brighton’s Mat Ryan producing a stunning penalty save off Everton’s Wayne Rooney, while Mile Jedinak played 90 minutes in Aston Villa’s 4-1 romp of leaders Wolves to draw within four points of second place Cardiff.

Jackson Irvine scored in Hull City’s 4-3 win over Norwich which pulls them away from the bottom three, while Bailey Wright played his second game since returning from injury in Bristol City’s 0-0 draw with Burton Albion.

Tim Cahill backed up his 20-minute appearance last week with a late cameo in Millwall’s 1-0 win over Brentford where left-back James Meredith made a crucial goal-line clearance to leave the Lions’ outside chance of making the playoffs alive.

Massimo Luongo followed up his goal last week with another commanding midfield display in QPR’s win over Sunderland.

In Germany’s second tier Robbie Kruse played a full game in Bochum’s 1-1 draw with Holstein Kiel.