Irvine came off the bench against Venezuela on Saturday then started and played an hour in Wednesday's 3-0 loss to Colombia at Citi Field in New York.
The FC St. Pauli midfielder only recently returned for the Bundesliga club off the bench and it was his first start at any level.
"Amazing to be back with this team and playing football again," he told Paramount Plus.
"I think it's been over seven months since I last started a game. So to be doing it against a top team was a test for me but it's another step in my progression.
"Hopefully I can take some more (steps) with my club and get back to my best.
"But it's an amazing feeling to be back with the boys after probably my longest break away from the team."
Midfield partner-in-crime Aiden O'Neill was noticeably more confident and aggressive with Irvine next to him
"Our build up was a lot better. It also helps with Jacko coming back, and his experience in the middle is obviously massive," he said.
"And I think you could see it and a few other changes really steadied up the ship. Experience in games like this can be massive.
"We play quite a bit together, and we understand each other's game, and we know our strengths. And I think Jacko and I bring the best out of each other."
The Socceroos should get more players back before they return to action in March, with Jordy Bos, Alessandro Circati, Aziz Behich, Harry Souttar, Jacob Italiano and Jason Geria among a lengthy injury list.
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic was delighted with how Irvine and McGree handled their first starts in eight and 12 months respectively, especially after a virus left the squad bedridden on Sunday.
"Today we had a chance to bring some players back from injury that haven't played much recently for Australia," he said.
"And I think in the first half, you could see with them on the park that the team was in good shape and when they get fitter and stronger, I think that will help us.
"First half, very good, and then I think it's normal, they start getting tired, and then we looked after them by taking them off, if we can help it, then they don't get injured.
"So we took them off as soon as we could."
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