Craig Goodwin’s ‘impact’ off bench pleases Socceroos coach Graham Arnold
As much as veteran winger Craig Goodwin wants his Socceroos starting spot back, he might have to settle for second-half cameos.
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A “super-sub” role looms for Craig Goodwin for the remainder of the Socceroos’ Asian Cup campaign after the veteran winger’s second-half cameo in Australia’s 4-0 disposal of Indonesia.
Having been an unused substitute for the Socceroos’ two previous matches, Goodwin came on in the 87th minute as a replacement for emerging star Jordan Bos with the Australians leading 2-0 at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.
The former Adelaide United captain, who was returning from a “couple of knocks”, had a near-immediate impact, scoring two minutes later, before providing the assist for Australia’s fourth goal, scored by Harry Souttar in stoppage-time.
“It’s really nice to be back in the frame and helping out the team,” Goodwin said.
“If that (super-sub) is the role that I have to do for now because Jordy Bos has come in and he’s done really well … that’s what I’ll do to the best of my abilities.”
And despite there being some calls for Goodwin to be restored to the starting team for the Socceroos’ quarter-final against either Saudi Arabia or South Korea on Saturday morning (AEDT), national coach Graham Arnold seems to like the idea of the 32-year-old left-sided attacker having an “impact” as a substitute.
“I know there are people back in Australia asking for or wanting to see an impact player off the bench and maybe that’s a good role for Craig Goodwin,” Arnold said.
“`Goody’ is getting to the age now where that role might suit him even more.
“I thought Jordy Bos was excellent (against Indonesia). If one of them gives me a good 60-70 minutes and then (the other) has that type of impact off the bench, it’s fantastic.”
Goodwin said the competition for starting spots would lead to “better performances” from the Socceroos.
“Of course I want to always start games. That’s what every player is striving for, you never sit there and say ‘I want to be on the bench’,” he said.
The battle for the Socceroos’ right-back spot might have been reduced to a two-horse race between Nathaniel Atkinson and Lewis Miller after Gethin Jones was taken to hospital following the win over Indonesia for scans on his injured groin.
Having been recalled to Australia’s starting line-up at Atkinson’s expense, the Bolton Wanderers defender – who crossed the ball for the Socceroos second goal, scored by Martin Boyle – was forced off in the second half and replaced by Atkinson.
“That’s what it is, unfortunately for him,” Arnold said of Jones.
“Overall, that game’s out of the way and we move forward.”
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Originally published as Craig Goodwin’s ‘impact’ off bench pleases Socceroos coach Graham Arnold
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