NEW Socceroo Stefan Mauk says his partner Carla Mitroussidis’s courageous fight with cancer inspired his rapid rise to the Socceroos and Adelaide United’s A-League championship team.

It’s the second major health crisis Mauk, 20, has had to come to terms with, after his father Georg lost his battle with cancer when Stefan was 15.

Mauk said that after Mitroussidis was diagnosed with cancer last year, he had turned to the game as a valuable outlet to calm his straying thoughts.

Good news followed for both.

“This time last year she got diagnosed; she’s OK now,’’ Mauk said.

“She went through the radiation treatment and she was lucky they caught it an early stage.

“So far they think it’s all good and every six months they’ll need a check up.

“Fingers crossed that’s the last of it, she had cancer in her lymph node behind her right eye socket, a very rare case.

“There’s only been two other cases like that in SA and it was so close to the brain and we thought it might have spread.

“But they caught it.

“Having to deal with it again at such a young age has probably held me in good stead for the rest of my life.

“It was another hurdle we had to go through ... it’s all part of life (and) has made me a lot more of a resilient person and player.

Mauk’s current Socceroos status was a long way from his mind when he began the incredible journey that saw him become an integral part of Adelaide’s Premier’s Plate success before turning in a brilliant performance in Reds 3-1 grand final win over Western Sydney.

He was on holiday in Bali with Mitroussidis and his good mate, Melbourne City’s Ben Garuccio, when he got the call saying he was now an official member of the Socceroos squad preparing to face England in Sunderland on May 28.

Mauk cut his vacation short by six days to give himself the best possible chance of being super fit for Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou.

He flew home to Adelaide with Mitroussidis on Thursday.

Mauk’s preparing for a couple of new experiences — his debut at a Socceroos camp and flying to England for the first time.

“I was laying beside the pool with my girlfriend in our villa in Seminyak when I got the call,’’ Mauk said.

“But it’s a huge challenge for us knowing they’re getting ready for the EURO, it’s a huge opportunity for us.

“To play England and to face some of the biggest names in football is unbelievable.

“It’s a good chance for me knowing in the next couple of years there’s World Cup qualifiers, Confederations Cup — it’s massive to show Ange how I can play.

“I’m really excited to get into camp.”

Mauk says Adelaide United’s general manager of football, Ante Kovacevic, has given him training advice, with the attacking midfielder expecting to also join United’s NPL side’s training sessions and a series of one-on-one practices.

The club is also mapping out a gym plan for the its newest Socceroo.