TOM Glover has revealed that his omission from Australia's Asian Cup squad was a mutual decision - with the goalkeeper and his national team bosses agreeing that it was best he stayed at Middlesbrough and tried to take his first team opportunity with Seny Dieng away.

Dieng has linked up with Senegal for the African Cup of Nations, though reports overnight claim Boro's No.1 is set to withdraw from the squad. Dieng suffered an injury in Boro's win at Swansea last month.

Glover was set to be away with the Socceroos at the same time. But as much as the 26-year-old takes enormous pride in representing his nation, on this occasion it was decided he was better off staying with his club and getting a run in the side.

And now he has the gloves, Glover - who was Boro's Man of the Match against Aston Villa on Saturday - is determined to keep them.

"I like to look at it as my shirt now, it's an opportunity and I need to run with it," he said.

"I spoke to the national team staff and with Seny going away to AFCON, they thought it would be best if I stayed here and play games. It was a mutual decision overall and it's an opportunity I need to make the most of here now.

"I've been presented these games and I need to make it count. I have an opportunity here and if I do well here the rest will take care of itself and I'll be in the national team, so my focus is on these next however many games and the rest of the season here at Boro, then the national team will come after that."

Boro were knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday but attention now turns to the Carabao Cup and a two-legged semi-final against Chelsea. It's the first time Boro have reached this stage of the competition since winning it 20 seasons ago when Mark Schwarzer was between the posts, the keeper Glover idolised growing up.

Now, he'd love to follow in the footsteps of one of his heroes.

"It's painted all over the walls of the training ground," laughed Glover, when asked what he knew about Boro's 2004 Carling Cup success.

"There were some Aussie goalkeepers who played for Boro back then (Schwarzer and Brad Jones). If I can make my mark and follow in those footsteps, that's the dream.

"Schwarzer is an Aussie icon. He was someone I looked up to as a kid. If I can follow and have half the career he did, that's what I work hard towards."

Glover doesn't know Schwarzer personally but did speak to Jones before joining Boro in the summer.

"He couldn't say enough good things about the club," he revealed.

"It was an easy decision to come and I'm loving it here. I came here to play in these types of games."

READ MORE:

Glover says Boro will approach the Chelsea tie with real belief on the back of their fine Villa display.

"We were the underdogs but we matched one of the best in the Premier League," he said.

"You only have to look at the form they're in and the teams they've beaten. We went head to head with them for 88 minutes. We have another game Tuesday so now we need to dust ourselves off and go again.

"The confidence will be very high. We're disappointed but confidence is high. We won't dwell on it for too long.

"We have a massive game coming up and we'll be ready for that."