Ange must ponder the Socceroos player mix

A PAIR of Socceroos walking the injury tightrope present coach Ange Postecoglou with his biggest headache ahead of World Cup qualifiers.

Postecoglou will name a 23man squad today for matches against Japan and Thailand that could lock in Australia’s participation in Russia next year. Mile Jedinak and Trent Sainsbury are likely to be named in the group but whether they front up is another question.

Both are touch-and-go propositions to play in Japan (August 31) or Melbourne (September 5) against Thailand. It’s hard to think of two more influential Socceroos.

Jedinak is Postecoglou’s midfield marshall, an everpresent when fit through the national team coach’s fouryear reign.

The Aston Villa man didn’t travel to the Confederations Cup after the flare-up of an ongoing groin complaint in Australia’s last World Cup qualifier in June.

Jedinak will be named in the 23-man squad but if he doesn’t feature in either of two matches for Villa today and Sunday morning this week, is likely to be replaced.

Jedinak has no natural replacement but Postecoglou can fall back on other midfield options including Jackson Irvine, Aaron Mooy, Massimo Luongo and Mark Milligan.

The options are less obvious for Sainsbury, Australia’s standout central defender.

He was one half of the pairing that won the Asian Cup two years ago, and entrusted as the main man in Postecoglou’s rebooted three-man defence.

In Russia, Sainsbury was Australia’s most consistent performer.

But he hasn’t played for his club since being substituted in the 1-1 draw with Chile with a hamstring problem.

Postecoglou will need to play three of his defensive options – Asian Cup winner Matt Spiranovic, Bailey Wright, Ryan McGowan, Milos Degenek and squad bolter Matt Jurman – in Sainsbury’s absence.