Jordan Bos in extreme doubt for Australia’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month

The Socceroos seem likely to be without one of their brightest young talents for next month’s games against Indonesia and China.

Jordan Bos is expected to miss the Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month against Indonesia and China. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Talented left-back Jordan Bos seems certain to miss the Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China next month because of a hamstring injury expected to sideline him for several weeks.

Bos, who was replaced in the first half of his Belgian club Westerlo’s 4-2 win over Standard Liege on February 10, took no part in his team’s 1-1 draw with Cercle Brugge on Monday morning (AEDT).

It’s understood that the former Melbourne City prodigy is unlikely to be returning to action anytime soon, casting serious doubt that he will be available for Australia’s games against Indonesia (March 20, Sydney) and China (March 25, Hangzhou).

Socceroo Jordan Bos is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Another injury concern for the Socceroos ahead of the qualifiers is goalkeeper and captain Mat Ryan, who has missed a second successive match for his French club Lens with a hip injury.

Ryan joined Lens last month from Italian club Roma, and started in consecutive wins over Angers (1-0) and Montpellier (2-0) before his injury.

Lens have lost both of their matches – 2-0 to Nice and 2-0 to Strasbourg – since Ryan was sidelined.

However, in better news for the Socceroos, teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda recovered from a leg injury to play for his Swiss Super League club Grasshoppers against Servette.

Despite Grasshoppers losing 2-1, Irankunda impressed. His performance included a header that hit the crossbar in the 12th minute and earning his team a first-half penalty – scored by Tsiy Ndenge – after being fouled by Servette goalkeeper Joel Mall.

Irankunda, who also had a shot saved by Mall, was eventually replaced in the 80th minute by Argentine attacker Tomas Veron Lupi.

Elsewhere, Socceroos midfielder Jackson Irvine’s German club team St. Pauli suffered a 1-0 home loss to Freiburg.

Irvine, who gave away a penalty in the match that wasn’t converted by Freiburg’s Italian midfielder Vincenzo Grifo, was left to lament a “big chance” he missed from a set piece.

A dejected Jackson Irvine reflects on St Pauli’s 1-0 loss to Freiburg. Picture: Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images

“It was a typical game for us,” Irvine said.

“Both teams defended very well and were unable to create many chances.

“We were very solid at the back. In the first half, the long balls almost took us by surprise, but we dealt with them much better in the second half.

“Not a lot happened after the penalty. I had a big chance from a set piece, and in the end it was a close encounter that didn’t go our way.”

Meanwhile, in Austria, wing-back Jacob Italiano continued his bid for Socceroos recognition, playing the full game for Grazer AK in a 0-0 draw with Lask.

Elsewhere in the Austrian top-flight, former Macarthur FC winger Jed Drew made his debut for Hartberg, playing for 70 minutes before being replaced in his new club’s 1-1 draw with SK Austria Klagenfurt.

Originally published as Jordan Bos in extreme doubt for Australia’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month