Maclaren, Oar tipped to roar into Socceroos

BRISBANE coach John Aloisi claims Jamie Maclaren and Tommy Oar will earn Socceroos call-ups for the 2018 World Cup if they play to their potential in the A-League.

The Roar duo are hovering on the periphery of the national set-up but face stiff competition to force their way back into coach Ange Postecoglou’s ever-improving squad, should they qualify for Russia 2018.

Maclaren was handed his first Socceroos cap in Australia’s 2-1 friendly loss to England in June after scoring 20 goals in last season’s breakout campaign.

The 23-year-old striker led a two-pronged attack alongside Robbie Kruse on starting debut in Sunderland.

But he’s yet to receive a recall, with Postecoglou so far preferring Tomi Juric, Tim Cahill and Apostolos Giannou in the final phase of World Cup qualifying.

For Oar it’s been nearly a year between drinks, a former Socceroos regular who fell down the pecking order and hasn’t featured since last November’s first-stage World Cup qualifying win over Bangladesh.

But at 24, a full pre-season at Brisbane should provide the stability to thrive after last year’s six joyless and injuryriddled months with English Championship side Ipswich Town.

The key for the pair will be getting consistent minutes, starting against Melbourne Victory in the season opener at Suncorp Stadium next Friday.

Aloisi believed the pair could make it happen.

“Jamie Maclaren and Tommy Oar will definitely be pushing hard for the World Cup,” Aloisi said.

“And if they do perform the way we know they can, I think they will get selected for 2018.”

The Socceroos play their next World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on October 7 before taking on arch-rivals Japan in Melbourne on October 11.