Time out for injured Socceroos

IT gives a whole new meaning to the term injury time – the toll taken on the players who appeared for Australia at the last World Cup.

Half of Bert van Marwijk’s 23-man squad that was picked for the World Cup last June has spent time on the sidelines since the tournament.

Many also have played significant internationals in their off-season in every year since the previous World Cup, as well as two Asian Cups in the midst of their domestic campaigns.

Midfielder Jackson Irvine has privately estimated playing well over 200 games in the last three years, and Irvine is likely to be among a wide range of senior players excused duty in next week’s friendly against South Korea.

Coach Graham Arnold is expected to unveil a squad short on experience but weighted towards potential, including current fringe players such as Craig Goodwin and several new faces – among them goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne from Sydney FC.

A host of the established figures have reported receiving – and accepting – the chance of a break from Arnold, with some still playing club football despite carrying ongoing injuries.

Some were serious enough to force players out of the Asian Cup, such as Aaron Mooy and Daniel Arzani, while others such as Robbie Kruse have scarcely featured for their clubs since the tournament in January.

It will be Arnold’s last chance to experiment before the qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup begins in September.