Jedinak to get extra time

CAPTAIN Mile Jedinak will be given an extra week to prove his fitness after being named in Ange Postecoglou’s preliminary squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Thailand.

But aside from the returning Jedinak, Postecoglou’s 30man group is largely about continuity, with 22 of the 23 players who went to the Confederations Cup in June featuring, though former Sydney FC defender Matthew J ur man is a surprise inclusion.

The matches against Japan in Saitama on August 31 and Thailand at AAMI Park on September 5 will determine whether the Socceroos qualify directly for Russia or be thrown into a pair of cutthroat two-legged-playoffs.

With just these two matches to play, Australia is currently third in Group B, a point behind Japan and trailing Saudi Arabia on goal difference — with the group leaders to also meet in the Middle East on September5.

Jedinak has been battling a groin injury since the latter stages of last season. He played 90 minutes against Saudi Arabia in a qualifier in June only to be subsequently ruled out of the Confeds Cup with the injury that he had surgery on soonafter.

The 33-year-old has missed the first two games of Aston Villa’s English Championship season and is considered to be in some doubt for these games.

But with Postecoglou not needing to trim his squad to 23 until next Wednesday, the Asian Cup-winning leader has an extra eight days’ grace.

The last match he played was that qualifier at the Adelaide Oval, while he has not played for Villa since April 23.