"This has come as a surprise and I have to say I’m pretty excited," the 22-year-old Genclerberligi striker told SBS before leaving Turkey for Australia.

"Any time you get a call from your country it’s a huge buzz and I’ll just get my head down, train hard and see where it takes me.

"When you’re in the company of the great players we have in the squad you can only benefit from the experience and if I make the final 18 then that would be a huge bonus.”

Djite had been on standby for Australia’s last two World Cup qualifiers and last turned out for the Socceroos when he made a substitute appearance against Uzbekistan in Tashkent last September and his selection makes him the fourth Turkey-based player to be named by Verbeek.

The former Adelaide United forward joins Harry Kewell (Galatasary), Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor) and Genclerbirligi team-mate Mile Jedinak.

"We’ve become good mates at Genclerbirligi and now to train together again with the Socceroos is that little bit extra. We’re both just happy to be involved,” continued the 2007/08 A-League’s young player of the year.

"The World Cup is our dream, like any player, but we’ve got a lot to do yet to force our way in should we qualify."

Australia currently top their 2010 World Cup qualifying group with 10 points, two clear of Japan and six ahead of both Bahrain and Qatar and nine clear of Wednesday’s opponents.

The Uzbeks will be looking to reduce the deficit on Saturday, March 28 when they host Qatar, with Japan and Bahrain meeting in Saitama on the same day.