World Cup qualifiers: Socceroos ready to welcome back Tom Rogic from injury for clash with Jordan
There’s no Daniel Arzani quite yet but Graham Arnold will be delighted to welcome back a familiar face for the Socceroos key World Cup qualifying showdown in Jordan later this month.
Socceroos
Don't miss out on the headlines from Socceroos. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The return of Tom Rogic will give Australia an attacking boost for their crucial World Cup qualifier against Jordan.
Rogic hasn’t played for the Socceroos since January’s Asian Cup campaign but Graham Arnold is expected to name him when he reveals his squad on Friday for the Group B match in Amman on November 14.
The 26-year-old wasn’t part of Australia’s squad for last month’s wins over Nepal and Taiwan after holding his wedding during the most recent international window.
Catch the Matilda’s take on Chile LIVE & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14-day free trial today >
Since those games however the midfielder has proven he’s fully recovered from the knee injury which dogged him last season at Scottish heavyweights Celtic, playing a key role in the Bhoys’ 5-2 League Cup semi-final win over Hibernian on the weekend.
Rogic’s form is good news for Arnold, who’ll be eager to avenge the Socceroos’ 1-0 loss to Jordan in their Asian Cup opener in the UAE earlier this year.
Jordan has been a nemesis for Australia in recent years, winning three of their five clashes including a 2-0 victory the last time the Socceroos visited the Middle East.
While Rogic is expected to return, Celtic teammate Daniel Arzani is yet to play first-team football this season after recovering from an ACL injury and is unlikely to be picked due to his lack of game time.
In-form striker Jamie Maclaren, who scored four goals against Nepal and Taiwan, will miss out due to the hamstring tear sustained in Melbourne City’s 2-1 A-League win over Western United.
His spot is likely to be taken by Scottish-born attacker Martin Boyle, who has returned for Hibernian following a long recovery from the knee injury which ruled him out of the Asian Cup.
Left-back Brad Smith will most likely miss the qualifier with Seattle to play in the MLS Cup final on November 10, leaving the 25-year-old little time to get from America’s Pacific northwest to Jordan.
Arnold’s son-in-law Trent Sainsbury will however return after missing the last qualifiers due to injury.
Australia have won three from three and hold a two-point lead over Jordan heading into the fixture.
A win over Al Nashama will put Arnold’s men firmly in charge of the group and the automatic qualifying berth for the final group stage.
LIKELY SOCCEROOS SQUAD: Mustafa Amini, Aziz Behich, Brandon Borrello, Martin Boyle, Milos Degenek, Apostolos Giannou, Tom Rogic, Rhyan Grant, Adjin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, James Jeggo, Mitch Langerak, Mathew Leckie, Massimo Luongo, Awer Mabil, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Andrew Redmayne, Mat Ryan, Trent Sainsbury, Harry Souttar, Adam Taggart, Bailey Wright.
Originally published as World Cup qualifiers: Socceroos ready to welcome back Tom Rogic from injury for clash with Jordan
‘Unnerving time’: Socceroos’ new coach anxiety
A leading Socceroo admits players are on edge following the appointment of Tony Popovic as Australia’s new coach.
Luongo’s Roos’ return shelved
An A-League veteran has a chance to make his Socceroos debut after injuries, including an ankle problem that has sidelined Massimo Luongo, forced changes to Australia’s 26-man squad for games against China and Japan.