Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou puts half the squad through their paces

ANGE Postecoglou declared “work starts today” despite only 11 of the 23-man Socceroos squad starting training on Sunday on day one of Asian Cup camp.

Socceroos training at Olympic Park. Tim Cahill. Picture Stuart Walmsley

SOCCEROOS coach Ange Postecoglou declared “work starts today” despite only 11 of the 23-man squad starting training on Sunday on day one of Asian Cup camp.

Postecoglou and the coaching staff will be casting their eye over the A-League and European games that the rest of the squad were involved in, including captain Mile Jedinak.

Tim Cahill are all smiles on day one.

Postecoglou will wait until Wednesday when every player has arrived before giving his first address to the squad.

Dutch-based Trent Sainsbury was the only injury concern, jogging laps at Olympic Park as he recovers from a hamstring strain.

Sainsbury last played for PEC Zwolle on December 7.

Veterans Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano and German-based pair Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie headlined the half of the squad that completed the short, sharp session.

“I’ve virtually just said hello to the boys as they’ve come in and we’ll address them all when the whole group’s together in the next couple of days,’’ Postecoglou said.

Mark Bresciano is looking forward to impressing on home soil.

“But the next two days are still important for us, and the work starts today.

“The next 9-10 days are really about fine-tuning our game plan and making sure the players are comfortable with the way we want to approach things.

“And seeing who’s up for it for the first 11, make it nice and competitive so that every one of the boys are ready to play come January 9.’’

Postecoglou is happy with the condition of his players, though they were be hoping the European boys got through their games unscathed.

“We’re in a good position because most of the players were still playing until now,’’ he said.

Half the Socceroos squad go through their warm-up routine.

“There were a couple of exception with leagues finishing earlier, Alex Wilkinson and Tim Cahill in particular, but we’ve been in daily contact to make sure they’re doing the work that’s needed.

“We’ve got 11 here, there’s four or five arriving this afternoon, then three are involved in an A-League game, and there’s games in the UK and Aziz Behich in Turkey.

“The A-League guys are in tomorrow, Tuesday it’s the UK boys and Wednesday are the last two arrivals.’’

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou puts half the squad through their paces