Goalkeeper Ryan on Tuesday officially ended a miserable six months at Italian powerhouse Roma, which included just one cup appearance, to join the French Ligue 1 club on a permanent short-term deal until June.
Earning more game time is crucial as Ryan, 32, jostles with Joe Gauci and Paul Izzo for Australia's No.1 goalkeeping spot ahead of March's World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China.
"Obviously he's going there with a view of getting more minutes. That's his belief," Popovic said.
Popovic picked Gauci over Ryan for his first three games in charge against China, Japan and Saudi Arabia before plumping for the veteran's experience against Bahrain.
Ryan has been encouraged by Popovic to 'work hard' as he strives to cement his Socceroos spot. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)
"He's a captain. He's a leader on and off the park. That's what a captain is. You learn a lot about the person when they're not selected for the game," Popovic said.
"In the end, our goal is to qualify the Socceroos for the World Cup, and everyone needs to fight for their position.
"That includes Maty, and he's accepted that, and he's been very good around the place while he wasn't playing.
"I told him that he will have a chance at some point, and he has to work hard, and if he wants to be in the Socceroos, all he can do is control his part.
"That's training well, being the leader, being the captain on and off the field and then it's down to my choice and my selection.
"I didn't expect anything different than what I've seen from a seasoned professional, who's had a great career - 96 caps, I believe.
"You don't get to that without being a top player and a top professional. So the way he's conducted himself is no surprise to me."
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Ryan headlines several Australians chasing playing time.
Nestory Irankunda has moved to Swiss club Grasshopper on loan from Bayern Munich, while Gauci is tipped to secure a loan away from Aston Villa this month.
"Game time always helps. But I certainly haven't told any player that if you don't play you won't be selected. That, we haven't told anyone," Popovic said.
"I think that's actually wrong, because sometimes the player needs to find a good loan move that's good for him as well.
"But if our players can find that, then obviously we're very happy that they get out and get some minutes, because you can't replicate training for minutes, and it does help.
"It definitely helps, especially if it's at a very high level."
Popovic will continue his hunt for a central defender to replace injured mainstay Harry Souttar (achilles), who recently joined Alessandro Circati (ACL) on the sidelines.
"It's a blow, of course it is. But we have to find solutions," he said.
"Like for like, you don't replace a Harry, because I feel his attributes are a bit unique to what we have at the moment. We don't have many players, or any players like Harry. Maybe Cam (Burgess) is similar to Harry."
In other injury news, Portsmouth striker Kusini Yengi (knee) could return by mid-to-late February.
But Popovic conceded the March window would be "a tight one" for Connor Metcalfe as the FC St Pauli midfielder battles an ongoing groin injury.
Striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos has had a setback with a calf injury.
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