Daunting Asian Cup calls loom for coach

GRAHAM Arnold must make the toughest calls of his Socceroos tenure when he decides who to tap and who to cull for his Asian Cup squad.

Just 23 players will travel to United Arab Emirates next week as Australia prepare to defend the title won by Ange Postecoglou’s side in 2015.

Injured midfielder Aaron Mooy will be provisionally named in the squad today before a medical later this week, with Socceroos staff still hopeful the Huddersfield man can overcome a knee issue.

Perth Glory’s Chris Ikonomidis and Netherlands-based Ajdin Hrustic are firmly in the frame as Arnold considers how to bolster goalscoring.

There are question marks over every line of his squad, particularly the attack.

Tomi Juric, with just three league starts in Switzerland and no goals all season, cannot be selected on form but might be saved by his experience.

Andrew Nabbout and Jamie Maclaren are likely inclusions.

Apostolos Giannou might overtake Juric in the pecking order, but both could miss out to Ikonomidis.

Goalkeepers are clear, with the key question in defence being Melbourne Victory’s Thomas Deng or Sydney FC’s Rhyan Grant at right-back.

Australia’s opening Asian Cup match is on January 6 against Jordan in Al-Ain.