Taggart gets nod for Cup qualifier

SOCCEROOS striker Jamie Maclaren missed last night’s World Cup qualifier against Taiwan despite his hat-trick against Nepal.

Graham Arnold opted for Adam Taggart instead of Maclaren in the Group B clash at Kaohsiung National Stadium in one of several changes to his starting XI.

As well as Taggart, left-back Brad Smith had a start, while Milos Degenek replaced Bailey Wright and partnered newcomer Harry Souttar in central defence.

Arnold said Maclaren’s omission was more about giving Taggart a chance than anything against the Melbourne City striker.

“You can’t go through a journey of four years relying on 12 players,” Arnold said.

“You can see his [Maclaren’s] confidence was sky high but, jeez, Adam Taggart is the leading goalscorer in South Korea and is doing great as well. There’s competition for places and, when there’s competition for places, it creates higher standards because they’re pushing each other.”

Taggart was hoping to at least replicate his performance the last time Australia played Taiwan, when he scored a double in an 8-0 win in 2012 in Hong Kong. Smith’s inclusion ended Aziz Behich’s run of 21 consecutive starts for the Socceroos, the most of any player since Alex Tobin in 1999.

It was be the 25-year-old’s first competitive appearance since the World Cup playoff against Syria in 2017.

Souttar retained his place ahead of Wright after his goalscoring debut against Nepal last Thursday in Canberra.

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