Socceroos stir up strikers for Korea clash

SOCCEROOS coach Graham Arnold looks set to unleash a new-look attack in this month’s friendly with South Korea, with Jamie Maclaren and Martin Boyle bound for Brisbane as part of a 23-man squad announced yesterday.

The pair, both based at Scottish club Hibernian along with veteran Mark Milligan, are two eye-catching inclusions for the Asian Cup final rematch on November 17.

Maclaren has long been touted as a national team striker after impressive ALeague campaigns and should get his chance having recovered from a back injury.

By contrast, Boyle — a youth international for Scotland — is poised to win a maiden Socceroos cap on his first visit to Australia, having been lured to represent the green and gold by Arnold.

Japan-based forward Andrew Nabbout will also return to the fold after the breakout striker suffered a shoulder dislocation at the World Cup.

Several players have dropped out of the reckoning from Australia’s most recent friendly, a 4-0 defeat of Kuwait last month. Brad Jones, Denis Genreau and Apostolos Giannou have missed call-ups, Daniel Arzani is out with a season-ending knee injury, while Kenny Dougall is unlikely to make January’s Asian Cup after a serious ankle issue.