Adelaide United’s Al Hassan Toure has chosen to play for Australia as Reds brace for massive losses over the FIFA international break
Adelaide United football director Bruce Djite said the club could have the right to postpone matches due to a massive loss of players for international duty.
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ADELAIDE United revelation Al Hassan Toure has decided to represent Australia.
It is understood Toure will today be named in Australia’s under-23 squad bound for China next week.
Adelaide is contemplating a potential reschedule as it braces itself for the loss of at least seven internationals for the next two A-League, Reds’ football director Bruce Djite said yesterday.
“When I spoke to Toure a week ago now, he hasn’t come back to me yet, but I’m assuming sometime this week he’ll let me know (about which country he prefers to play for),’’ Djite said.
“If he says yes (to Australia), the passport is in the envelope, it goes straight to FFA to get visas but we don’t know yet.
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“There is regulations around getting (A-League) games postponed depending on who gets selected but we don’t know if we’ll be in a position to do that yet.
“The other side of the coin is it opens up opportunities for others.
“I’ve already sent an email to the under 20s (national team) manager saying that if we’ve already qualified before their third game of the little tournament than can Louis D’Arrigo at least come back early.
“He is really the only player for the U-20s playing regularly and starting (in the A-League).
“There needs to be a bit of give and take from the federation.
“The last thing you want is for clubs to revert back to playing more established players that don’t have a risk on going on national team duty.”
National teams boss Graham Arnold has invited Toure for Australian U-23 duty after Liberia – the country where his parents were born – made an unofficial approach to cap the striker through coach Peter Butler as revealed in The Advertiser.
With Toure choosing Australia, he is certain to miss Adelaide’s away clash against Central Coast on November 16 alongside Riley McGree and potentially George Blackwood and reserve gloveman Daniel Margush.
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FFA is this week expected to announce the Olyroos squad bound for an unofficial tournament in China during the November FIFA international window from the 11th to the 19th.
An FFA official said Toure is not expected to run into the same hurdles as Ex Red Awer Mabil when he faced an eligibility crisis before playing for Australia in official matches in 2014.
Toure, 19, and McGree, 21, are expected to face Liverpool legend’s Robbie Fowler’s Brisbane Roar at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday before flying out for China on Monday.
However Adelaide’s first big international hit of the season is already underway.
The Reds have lost three Australian U-20 players for three Group H matches in Chinese Taipei in a bid to qualify for the 2020 AFC U-19 Championship and to win a spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2021.
Impressive holding midfielder D’Arrigo – a mainstay of coach Gertjan Verbeek’s first 11 in the Reds first three A-League matches – is certain to leave a massive hole against a winless Roar.
D’Arrigo is joined by teammate Lachlan Brook – who featured in the Reds 2-1 loss to Melbourne City – and young goalkeeper Cameroon Cook.
The U-20 tournament ends on Sunday with a clash against Chinese Taipei after the Australians face Laos on Wednesday and Macau on Friday.