Covid blow for Roos’ Degenek

THE Socceroos have suffered another Covid-19 interruption in their preparation for Friday’s World Cup qualifier in Doha after defender Milos Degenek returned a positive test for the virus.

Degenek, who plays for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia, is asymptomatic but returned a positive test in his pre-departure screening.

He has been ruled out of the upcoming FIFA international window, which for the Socceroos includes two World Cup qualifiers against Oman on Friday and Japan next Tuesday. Degenek is the second Socceroos defender in the space of a week to fall victim to Covid after Seattle Sounders left back Brad Smith was excluded from the squad last week after testing positive.

Coach Graham Arnold has called up Sunderland defender Bailey Wright to join his 25man squad. Fifteen of the squad for the Socceroos’ third and fourth World Cup qualifiers have now arrived in Doha, with the remaining 10 squad members set to arrive on Tuesday. The arrivals include Denis Genreau, the former Macarthur FC midfielder who joined French side Toulouse after representing the Olyroos at the Tokyo Olympics.