Socceroos Andrew Nabbout and Josh Risdon in doubt to play Palestine at Asian Cup
Graham Arnold’s concerns continue to grow as Andrew Nabbout and Josh Risdon join broken hand victim Tom Rogic as major doubts for the Socceroos’ crunch Asian Cup clash with Palestine.
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The Socceroos’ injury crisis continues to claim first-teamers, with Andrew Nabbout and Josh Risdon appearing in serious doubt to play Australia’s crunch Asian Cup clash with Palestine.
It comes after news emerged Tom Rogic broke his hand during Sunday’s shock 1-0 loss to Jordan.
Socceroos staff still say Rogic will be fit for a second group game already being treated as a final.
But the Celtic playmaker, who is also carrying a knee injury and appeared to roll his ankle in the Jordan match, only completed five minutes of light jogging at training on Tuesday with his hand bandaged up.
Forward Nabbout was withdrawn from the tournament-opener with a groin issue sustained in the final pre-match training session, while right-back Risdon was pulled off at halftime with a similar problem.
Initial predictions from within camp suggested Nabbout might be ready to return for the second match, to be played in Dubai on Friday night (EDT).
“I doubt that,” Socceroos assistant coach Rene Muelensteen said.
“I don't know the final detail of that but we were looking at it, because after he did it he said he was fine and he woke up the next morning and he wasn't fine, so we're not going to take any risk with that.
“I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't fit for that game.”
Nabbout trained separately from the main group with Mat Leckie, who’s recovering from a hamstring injury.
Risdon, who was substituted at halftime on Sunday, did not even complete the warm-up.
“Risdon again, I don't think he'll be fit,” Muelensteen said.
“He over-stretched himself in the abdominal area and these are very bad injuries that you can't really do anything about. You can't inject them or tape them or whatever it is.
“He's going to need review but again, I think he'll be a doubt for Palestine.
“We've had a few of those knockbacks in that respect because you want your best players on the pitch, we all know that, but we don't spend any energy thinking about that.
“We've got a squad (with) depth, we've got plenty of good players to come in with a lot of energy who are keen to impress, so I don't see any problems there for us.”
A Socceroos spokesperson later endeavoured to allay concerns about the pair.
“Andrew Nabbout and Josh Risdon have groin injuries but are expected to be back soon,” the spokesperson said.
“They remain in contention for the Palestine fixture.”
The potential absence of two first-team players would open the door for other squad members, with Sydney FC’s Rhyan Grant the likely replacement at right-back after adding energy off the bench against Jordan.
Up front, coach Graham Arnold may opt to start Jamie Maclaren again in the hope his teammates are able to get the ball to him against a similarly defensive Palestine side.
Further questions abound about Arnold’s front third and midfield, after both Jackson Irvine and Chris Ikonomidis in particular pressed their case for a start.
Muelensteen admitted Australia did not have the answers in the first half and put part of the sluggish start down to nerves, prescribing patience and dynamic movement as the key to breaking them down.
“You can play 10, 50, 100 friendlies, at the end of the day, what does it mean?” he said.
“When it really comes to a tournament, you go up to it, everybody senses that there is this different sort of anxiety about the players
“… obviously all the players are keen and trying to make things happen, and therefore sometimes make the wrong decisions.
“In many ways the next game is a final already. Obviously there’s different ways but that’s how we need to treat it.
“I’m without a shadow of a doubt convinced the players know it and are aware of it. It’s just human habit to get affected by certain disappointment, we can’t let that disappointment have an affect on our next performance.”
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Originally published as Socceroos Andrew Nabbout and Josh Risdon in doubt to play Palestine at Asian Cup
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