Trio boosts Socceroos for Jordan trip - AUSTRALIA
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AFC Asian Cup winners Trent Sainsbury, James Troisi and Tomi Juric return from injury to bolster Australia for next month's 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ qualifier against Jordan.
Coach Ange Postecoglou named the trio on Wednesday in a 23-man squad for the 8 October tie in Amman. "It is a sign of the depth we are creating that we bring these three guys back into the squad for the Jordan game," Postecoglou said.
"All three played a major part in our Asian Cup success and after finding fitness and regular club football they are ready to come back in. We have said all along that we will need a pool deeper than 23 players throughout the World Cup qualifiers as we strive to make an impact leading into the next World Cup in Russia."
The Socceroos top their group after wins over Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh and Tajikistan. Jordan are just two points behind.
"On paper this is the toughest match we face but we have seen in the earlier games, especially the clash with Kyrgyzstan away, that these matches present challenges on and off the field," the coach said. "The last time Australia faced Jordan in Amman we lost that game so we have to be well prepared."
Skipper Mile Jedinak is still short of game time with his English premiership club Crystal Palace and has been left out.
Australia squad
Goalkeepers: Alex Cisak (Leyton Orient/England), Adam Federici (Bournemouth/England), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United)
Defenders: Jason Davidson (Huddersfield/England), Tarek Elrich (Adelaide United), Ryan McGowan (Dundee United/Scotland), James Meredith (Bradford/England), Trent Sainsbury (Zwolle/Netherlands), Matthew Spiranovic (Hangzhou Greentown/China PR), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Hyundai/Korea Republic), Bailey Wright (Preston/England)
Midfielders: Luke Brattan (unattached), Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers/England), Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (Baniyas/United Arab Emirates), Aaron Mooy (Melbourne City), Tom Rogic (Celtic/Scotland)
Forwards: Nathan Burns (FC Tokyo/Japan), Tim Cahill (Shanghai Shenhua/China PR), Tomi Juric (Roda Kerkrade/Netherlands), Mathew Leckie (Ingolstadt/Germany), Tommy Oar (Ipswich Town/England), James Troisi (Al Ittihad/Saudi Arabia)