Mooy in, no Juric for Socceroos bid
GRAHAM Arnold has named injured midfielder Aaron Mooy in his 23-man Socceroos squad for the Asian Cup, hoping his English Premier League star can be fit for next month’s tournament.
Three A-League players – Josh Risdon, Chris Ikonomidis and Rhyan Grant – will travel to the United Arab Emirates, with Arnold overlooking local flyers Terry Antonis, Craig Goodwin and James Troisi.
There’s also no place for long-term Socceroos striker Tomi Juric, who has struggled for goals at club side Luzern.
Under Arnold, the Socceroos are seeking to retain the trophy Ange Postecolgou’s side won on home soil in 2015.
Just eight players have survived from that squad: goalkeepers Mat Ryan and Mitch Langerak, Aziz Behich, Trent Sainsbury, Mat Leckie, player of the tournament Massimo Luongo, Robbie Kruse and newly-blooded skipper Mark Milligan.
There are also seven changes from the World Cup squad in June, including a first senior tournament for Mustafa Amini, Martin Boyle and Awer Mabil. Mooy’s hopes of playing in January depend upon a second opinion on his knee injury, suffered on club duty.
The 28-year-old was originally ruled out by Huddersfield Town medicos but Arnold said he’d sent a Socceroos doctor abroad this week on Mooy’s request.
“Aaron wants to go to the Asian Cup. He’s asked for the second opinion,” he said.
“He believes he’ll be ready and so do we.”
A clutch of players are on standby should Mooy be ruled out, or if others are injured before their tournament opener against Jordan on January 6.
Without beanpole strikers Juric or Apostolos Giannou, Arnold is putting his faith in a pacy and flexible forward line.
“The need for speed is up front,” he said. “We’ve got goalscorers everywhere ... it’s an exciting attacking team.”
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