Maclaren joy as Australia name him in cup squad

Jamie Maclaren’s fine form for Hibs has helped secure him a place in Australia’s final World Cup squad after several months of uncertainty.

The striker joined the Easter Road club on loan from SV Darmstadt in January in a bid to enhance his prospects of making the squad for this summer’s finals in Russia.

After scoring eight goals in 15 games for the Edinburgh side, Maclaren, who has drifted in and out of the thoughts of Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk ever since the Dutchman was appointed manager in January, finally got confirmation over the weekend that he will be in the squad.

Initially selected for friendlies against Norway and Colombia in March, the 24-year-old’s World Cup hopes appeared to be over when he wasn’t listed in the squad, named three weeks ago, to head to Turkey to prepare for the World Cup. His exclusion, the day after he had scored a hat-trick for Hibs in a 5-5 draw with Rangers, caused surprise in Australia.

However, Maclaren was given a belated call-up to the squad last week amid an injury doubt to fellow striker Tomi Juric and after winning his sixth cap as a second-half substitute in a 4-0 win over Czech Republic on Friday, Maclaren was named in the final 23- man squad yesterday morning.