Call-ups may hit derby
Socceroos squad
GRAHAM Arnold’s latest Socceroos squad is set to impact on the A-League’s blockbuster Round 1 Melbourne derby clash next weekend.
Australia continues its World Cup qualifying campaign against Nepal in Canberra on October 10 before travelling to Taiwan for an away fixture on October 15.
Those matches clash with the opening round of the ALeague, of which the Marvel Stadium encounter between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City on October 12 is a standout.
Arnold is not expected to call up more than a handful of A-League based players when he names his squad today but both Victory and City are in line to be among those teams affected.
Victory defender Thomas Deng is almost certain to be picked having been chosen in the squad for last month’s World Cup qualifying campaign opener against Kuwait.
Recruit Andrew Nabbout will also be keen to regain his Socceroos spot after missing out on the Kuwait squad, though veteran forward Robbie Kruse (hamstring) is unlikely to be named due to a lack of fitness.
City meanwhile is preparing to face its cross-town rival without Jamie Maclaren after the striker came through Tuesday’s FFA Cup semi-final win over Brisbane Strikers without aggravating a knee knock.
The only other A-League club likely to be affected will be defending champion Sydney FC, with fullback Rhyan Grant and goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne expected to be among Arnold’s 23.
The Sky Blues open their season on Friday, October 11, in Adelaide.
Arnold has already confirmed Celtic’s Tom Rogic will not be picked as he continues his journey back to full fitness from a knee injury, and due to his coming wedding.
Key European-based players such as Mathew Ryan, Mathew Leckie and Aaron Mooy are set to be named, however.
Leckie scored twice and Mooy was also on the scoresheet in the 3-0 win over Kuwait but it’s understood both may play limited minutes against Group B minnows Nepal and Taiwan to give Arnold a chance to look at his fringe players.
Captain Mark Milligan, who withdrew from the Kuwait squad due to injury, played a full 90 minutes on the weekend for English League One club Southend United and is expected to be named.
Meanwhile, former Socceroo Mark Bresciano and exMatilda Amy Duggan have joined the FFA board. As directors they will bring considerable playing experience to the board.
Bresciano and Duggan’s first role will be helping the search for a new FFA chief executive to replace outgoing boss David Gallop, who will be gone by the end of the year.