Former Celtic and Hibernian midfielder Jackson Irvine has opened up about why he was wearing a retro Hoops strip when he first arrived at Australia's World Cup base last year.

Footage of the St Pauli star went viral after he turned up at the camp donning the home jersey from the 1998-99 season, complete with fellow countrymen Mark Viduka's name and number on the back.

The Aussie superstar scored 41 goals in 48 games for the Parkhead side before departing for Premier League club Leeds United in 2000 for a substantial fee.

Irvine would go on to feature for his country in four games at the tournament in Qatar as the Socceroos reached the round of 16.

And the 29-year-old has revealed that he was surprised at the reaction his choice of clothing received.

READ MORE: How Giorgos Giakoumakis should be remembered at Celtic

Speaking to Football Scotland, he said: "I had absolutely no idea it would cause such a stir. Anybody who knows me or follows my social media knows that I'm a football fashionista.

"I've always been interested in retro kit and football fashion and culture. I've got a big collection at home and I don't know why I chose to go with that one on the day but I'm glad I did because it got a fair bit of reaction.

"Duks (Viduka) is one of my heroes and the fact he wore 36 for Celtic and that was the number I made my debut in, it's got a special place in my heart and is definitely one of the favourites on the rack.

"Sometimes you're just drawn to something on the day and I was actually going on holiday to Australia after the World Cup and I'd picked out two or three that I was going to wear on the beach and that was one of them so it just made its way on the plane."

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