There's nothing like a local boy made good, especially if the story has elements of the prodigal son narrative.
Not that Greek-born, Australian-raised striker Apostolos Giannou has done anything wrong.
But for years it seemed as though Giannou, who cut his teeth in Victoria's junior leagues, then at the VIS and in the old Victorian Premier League with Oakleigh Cannons, would join the ranks of locally produced players who have pledged their international future to another nation.
Now the 26-year-old, who made a solitary appearance for the Greek national team in a friendly, has switched allegiance to the land where he grew up. 
Confirmation of his commitment came on Wednesday morning when he was named in Ange Postecoglou's Socceroos squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Tajikistan in Adelaide and Jordan in Sydney.
Giannou was one of three uncapped players included in the group, alongside young full-backs Jason Geria from Melbourne Victory and Alex Gersbach, late of Sydney FC but now of Norwegian club Rosenborg.
Veteran frontman Tim Cahill is still there, but this is a squad boasting nine changes from the one that secured maximum points against Kyrgyzstan and Bangladesh last   November.
Several familiar faces - Ivan Franjic, Alex Wilkinson (both of Melbourne City), Jason Davidson, James Troisi and Matt McKay, among others - are missing as Postecoglou looks to blood some youngsters to increase the depth and experience in a squad that has a heavy workload during the next nine months.
After the two World Cup games later in   March, Australia then face England in late   May before playing twice against Greece in early   June, in Melbourne and Sydney.
In the second half of the year the final phase of World Cup qualifying will begin, and that is why Postecoglou is keen to bolster his stocks, particularly in the striking and full-back areas. Hence the call-ups for Geria, Gersbach and Giannou, a player Postecoglou coached in the Australian under-17 team and one he has kept an eye on since he got the job as Socceroos boss in late 2013.
"He's a guy I have known for a very long time, I coached him in the Joeys. Even when I got the job he was one of the first people I asked about. There was a great deal of confusion about his eligibility," said Postecoglou.
"It was only recently, in the past few months through the work of his representatives and Apo himself, that we got clearance from FIFA that he is still eligible. I flew to Greece to have a chat with him.
"I think he really adds something to us. He has had some international experience with Greece and at under-age level.
"He plays in a part of the park where we are still looking to create some depth, especially in those central attacking areas."
Postecoglou says that Giannou's established record in a competitive European league makes him an exciting prospect.
"He has got a pedigree, he has been playing in the Greek first division for a number of years now. He was selected in the last Greece squad, which shows you he has got consistency and form.
"He has scored goals fairly regularly in a tough league, I know the Greek first division very well - it is a very defensive league and the fact he has got double digits [goals] in the last couple of years is a credit to him.
"He is a bit of a different central striker to Timmy. He can hold the ball up and is fairly mobile, but just like Timmy he's a very good finisher. It's about bringing him in and giving him an understanding of the way we do things ... he certainly deserves an opportunity on form."
The Socceroos boss said Brisbane striker Jamie McLaren was unlucky to miss out. The Roar frontman has been one of the hottest strikers in the A-League this season, and in any other squad he might have got a call-up.
"He was very close. We have been tracking him for quite a while. If Apo was not available for this one we would have brought him in, again to give him an opportunity. If he continues his form he will get an opportunity at the right time.
"With Apo and Timmy there I am fairly comfortable. With these two central striking positions, we have got two guys who can deliver in these two games."
Postecoglou also believes Geria and Gersbach, two dynamic, athletic young full-backs, can put down a marker as long-term prospects.
"Jason and Alex are two really exciting young talents developed in the A-League. They are two guys we have been tracking for a very long time. The full-back positions are where I still think we need to have some more depth. We have been found to have been a bit short in those areas in the past."
SOCCEROOS SQUAD
Terry Antonis, Nathan Burns, Tim Cahill, Adam Federici, Jason Geria, Alex Gersbach, Apostolos Giannou, Chris Ikonomidis, Mile Jedinak, Robbie Kruse, Mitchell Langerak, Mathew Leckie, Massimo Luongo, Ryan McGowan, Mark Milligan, Aaroy Mooy, Josh Risdon, Tommy Rogic, Mathew Ryan, Trent Sainsbury, Brad Smith, Matthew Spiranovic, Bailey Wright.