Socceroos will sorely miss sneaky striker

I HAVE had a fair bit of spare time on my hands this week – enjoying a small break from the demands of The Chronicle sports desk.

I’m never too far away from sport though because as is often the case whenever I have a small break I find myself flicking through the sports channels on Foxtel.

Normally I try to find something obscure to watch – last week it was the American Cornhole League – but this week my viewing has been a little more “conventional”.

These past few days I’ve watched quite a few replays of Scottish Premier League matches – and I have to say I’ve been slightly impressed.

Often ridiculed for its lack of quality football and the fact it’s a two-horse between Celtic and Rangers, I have to admit my opinion has changed.

It’s no English Premier League or Serie A and Celtic are still dominant – but there is some quality there.

Which makes me wonder why in the world Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk cut striker Jamie McLaren from his World Cup squad.

I’ve never been the biggest of McLaren fans but goals are goals and the Celtic has scored nine in his past 13 games including a recent hat-trick in the Old Firm derby versus Rangers.

In my book McLaren is something the forwards in

Marwijk’s current 26-man squad are not – he’s a goal sneak.

Tim Cahill and Tom Juric are “traditional strikers” and Daniel Arzani is a young talent with a real “X-factor”.

McLaren is a lurker who will finish off the scraps in the penalty area – the type of player we will need at the World Cup.

We’re not going to dominate matches but we will fight and McLaren has proven himself to be a fighter.

I guess Marwijk doesn’t really care though – after all win, lose or draw he’ll pick up his cheque and leave as soon Australia exits the cup.