Mile Jedinak named in initial Socceroos squad for key World Cup qualifiers
Ange Postecoglou has thrown a lifeline to injury-troubled skipper
Mile Jedinak, naming him in a provisional 30-man squad for two matches
that will determine Australia’s World Cup destiny.
Jedinak missed the Confederations Cup due to a groin injury and has not played club football for Aston Villa since April but he is nearing a return to full fitness. Postecoglou will keep tabs on him before finalising a 23-man group next week for the World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Thailand.
Jedinak, 33, pulled up sore after his last appearance for the Socceroos in June’s qualifying win over Saudi Arabia in Adelaide.
Postecoglou has picked mostly tried and tested players for the provisional squad. But there are five possible debutants, among them former Sydney FC stopper Matthew Jurman, who has been rewarded for his strong form for South Korean side Suwon Samsung Bluewings.
He will compete for a position in a defensive group that includes Matthew Spiranovic, who has not played for the Socceroos since last November.
“We haven’t strayed too far from the players who went to the Confederations Cup and who we have had on the radar for a while, so not a great deal of change at this stage,” Postecoglou said. “There are a few new faces as well to have a look at but overall I’m pretty pleased with the shape we’re in.”
James Jeggo, Awer Mabil, Riley McGree and Danny Vukovic are the other non-capped players.
The Socceroos need at least four points from the two games to book a spot at next year’s World Cup in Russia without having to rely on other results. First up is a trip to Saitama to face Japan on 31 August then playing Thailand five days later at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
Jedinak missed the Confederations Cup due to a groin injury and has not played club football for Aston Villa since April but he is nearing a return to full fitness. Postecoglou will keep tabs on him before finalising a 23-man group next week for the World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Thailand.
Jedinak, 33, pulled up sore after his last appearance for the Socceroos in June’s qualifying win over Saudi Arabia in Adelaide.
Postecoglou has picked mostly tried and tested players for the provisional squad. But there are five possible debutants, among them former Sydney FC stopper Matthew Jurman, who has been rewarded for his strong form for South Korean side Suwon Samsung Bluewings.
He will compete for a position in a defensive group that includes Matthew Spiranovic, who has not played for the Socceroos since last November.
“We haven’t strayed too far from the players who went to the Confederations Cup and who we have had on the radar for a while, so not a great deal of change at this stage,” Postecoglou said. “There are a few new faces as well to have a look at but overall I’m pretty pleased with the shape we’re in.”
James Jeggo, Awer Mabil, Riley McGree and Danny Vukovic are the other non-capped players.
The Socceroos need at least four points from the two games to book a spot at next year’s World Cup in Russia without having to rely on other results. First up is a trip to Saitama to face Japan on 31 August then playing Thailand five days later at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
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