Socceroos to unleash Irankunda in World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold is ‘excited’ about the hype surrounding Bayern Munich-bound teenager Nestory Irankunda.

Nestory Irankunda is set to make his Socceroos debut against Bangladesh. Picture: Martin Keep / AFP

Teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda will have free rein to torment Bangladesh’s defence when he makes his Socceroos debut in Dhaka on Thursday night.

Having impressed national coach Graham Arnold on and off the training field in Socceroos camp, the Bayern Munich-bound winger will definitely be given game time in Australia’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Bengal Tigers whether it’s as a starter or off the bench.

And once Irankunda’s on the park, the Socceroos will fit around him rather than the former Adelaide United star being forced to adapt to a certain structure.

“I’m not going to try and control him and get him to do things that are not his specialty,” Arnold said.

“What he’s very, very good at is doing what Nestor does and we will fit that into our style of play, and also in our system.

“There’s just a couple of little things around his defensive side of things, but that’s why we need the senior boys on the field, some of them to help coach and lead those younger boys to make them feel comfortable on the pitch.”

Arnold said 18-year-old Irankunda had fit into the Socceroos’ culture “extremely well”.

“He’s been very good. He’s hanging around a lot of the senior boys which is good to see, and he’s been training very, very well,” the Socceroos boss said.

“I’m excited and happy that everyone is talking about the kid.

“He is a great talent but it’s not always just about talent. It’s also about where your career is going.

“He’s going to Bayern Munich, but it’s also about how much hard work he puts in, and how much belief he has in himself to go to that next level.”

Nestory Irankunda will have the chance to bamboozle Bangladesh’s defence. Picture: Michael Klein

Arnold has also been impressed with former prodigy Daniel Arzani, who has the chance to make his first Socceroos appearance since the 2018 World Cup.

“He’s brought in some energy. Everywhere he sits everyone’s laughing which is great, but on the training pitch has been very good as well,” he said of the Melbourne Victory attacking weapon.

“You can see he has the real commitment and the hunger to get back and be with us on the long journey ahead.”

While Arnold would not confirm his full starting team, he said Aston Villa’s third-choice goalkeeper Joe Gauci would start ahead of the Victory’s Paul Izzo and Western Sydney’s Lawrence Thomas in the absence of long-time custodian and skipper Mat Ryan, who has rested from the clash with Bangladesh and next week’s battle with Palestine in Perth.

“It’s a good opportunity for us again to look at Joey, but he hasn’t played since he’s been at Villa, so (it’s about) getting him on the pitch and making sure that he’s working extremely well with the other two keepers and (goalkeeper coach) John Crawley,” Arnold said.

“I’m having a few (selection) headaches, but they’re good headaches with the depth that we’ve created and built over the last few years.

“When I look at the squad list, there are 10 to 13-14 players that aren’t here through injuries or other reasons, but it shows that we’re getting stronger and stronger, which is exciting.”

AFC round two FIFA World Cup qualifier

Bangladesh v Australia

Thursday, Bashundhara Kings Arena, Dhaka, 8.45pm (AEST)

Originally published as Socceroos to unleash Irankunda in World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh