Cristian Volpato is up to speed and ready to make an impact whenever the Socceroos need him.
That's the impression close friend and teammate Alessandro Circati has as Volpato looms as a potential point of difference against Paraguay in Santa Clara on Thursday (Friday AEST).
Sassuolo winger Volpato's dare, skill and guile in half an hour against the United States was eye-catching, but didn't surprise Circati.
"No, I don't think we need to be surprised," Circati said.
"I know him as a player, I think that's exactly who he is. What you saw against the US, that's the sort of player he is.Â
"Now he's sort of caught up to speed. At the start, he was a little bit maybe not ready or not familiar with our set-up and how we like to play.
"But now he's had a lot of time and he's come in just great."
Volpato, defected from Italy barely a month ago, in a sensational backflip after long declaring he wanted to play for the Azzurri, including knocking back Graharm Arnold's approach for him to join the Australian 2022 World Cup squad.
Circati, who made his own call to represent Australia at senior level after being an Italy youth international, had been one of the Socceroos regularly in Volpato's ear about his future.
The pair were roommates when playing youth internationals for Italy together.
"We probably spoke a few times a week throughout the whole year," Circati told AAP earlier this month.
"I did know his thought processes, I did know when he wasn't sure whether to come, he wasn't sure what the right decision was.
"A week or two weeks before him coming in camp, we did have a conversation and he did tell me that, obviously, he wanted to come."
Circati kept that exciting news to himself until after Volpato spoke to coach Tony Popovic about his call.
On Wednesday, Italy-born, Perth-raised Circati reflected upon his own choice to knock back Italy, after playing at U20 level, before making his Socceroos debut in 2023.
"I decided to represent Australia because that's where I felt like I belonged," Circati said.
"I went to Italy a few times - nothing against the players, they were all great, and all the people are great, but it's just a feeling that you have inside.
"People who never had the opportunity to have the privilege to be able to pick, you don't really have that sort of feeling.
"But for the people that (do), like myself and a few of the boys in the team, it's not an easy decision but it comes from within when it does."