AUSSIE STAR ROGIC CLOSE TO FULL FITNESS FOR BRAZIL

Sydney, May 18: Emerging Australia midfield star Tom Rogic said on Sunday he is close to full fitness in the countdown to next month’s World Cup in Brazil.

Since making his Socceroos debut in 2012 Rogic, 21, has been considered a star in the making with coach Ange Postecoglou declaring him a “leading light” as he attempts to rebuild the Australia side.

Acting on the advice of Postecoglou, Rogic made the move from Scottish champions Celtic to Melbourne Victory in January in an effort to get more game time.

He made only 11 appearances in the A- League and AFC Champions League before a groin injury ended his season prematurely.

But Rogic said he still got enough minutes under his belt and, having trained with Socceroos squad, was feeling close to full fitness. France’s second choice goalkeeper Steve Mandanda faces a battle to be fit for the Cup finals after it was announced on Sunday he would be sidelined for six weeks.

The 29- year- old Marseille ‘ keeper, who is the understudy in the French national team to Hugo Lloris, suffered a cracked vertebra in his neck following a collision with Guingamp striker Mustapha Yatabare in Saturday’s Ligue 1 match.

“Mandanda will wear a neck brace for three weeks and then undergo a similar period of rehabilitation,” Marseille said in a statement.

If Mandanda be forced to pull out of the squad France coach Didier Deschamps should call up St Etienne’s Stephane Ruffier, who has been capped once, as he was in a list of seven players placed on standby earlier in the week.