Doubt shadows Maclaren after Roos gamble

JAMIE Maclaren’s gamble to leave the A-League a year out from the World Cup to cement a World Cup spot seems to have failed, with the former Brisbane Roar striker set to miss out on Australia’s squad for Russia 2018.

A reduced Socceroos squad of 26 that will go to a preWorld Cup training camp in Turkey will be announced today, with McLaren expected to be among the six players last week named in a preliminary 32-man squad to be axed.

That’s despite his good run of form for Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League since his loan move from German second division club Darmstadt. In 15 appearances for Hibs, Maclaren scored eight goals, including a hat-trick in his side’s thrilling 5-5 weekend draw with Rangers.

But his goals have not been enough to convince Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk to take him to Russia for the World Cup starting next month.

Former Socceroos attacker Robbie Slater told Fox Sports that Maclaren had missed out on the 26-man squad, to be reduced further after Turkey.

“I’ve got on good information that Jamie Maclaren has been cut and will not be going to Turkey,” a surprised Slater said.

Former Socceroos defender Craig Moore, who during his time as Roar football director helped bring Maclaren to Brisbane, said he would have been better off staying in the ALeague for another season.

Maclaren scored 40 ALeague goals in two seasons with the Roar before last year moving to Darmstadt where he struggled before his loan move.

“We wanted Jamie Maclaren to stay at the Roar for another season,” Moore said.

“But he came out and said a move to Europe would have helped his chances of going to the World Cup.

“I’ve got no doubt that had Jamie stayed in the A-League and hit double figures with goals for a third successive season, he would have gone to the World Cup.”

Former Socceroos striker and captain John Kosmina was only mildly surprised by the news of Maclaren’s likely omission.

“It shows the way he (van Marwijk) wants the Socceroos to play, with a striker who can hold the ball up, like Tomi Juric,” he said.