Socceroos: Uncapped A-League trio Ruon Tongyik, Denis Genreau and Connor Metcalfe named in national squad
Ten A-League players are in a 31-strong Socceroos squad for World Cup qualifiers in Kuwait City next month.
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A-League players make up almost a third of a Socceroos squad missing key pair Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Kuwait, Chinese Taipei, Nepal and Jordan in Kuwait City.
Of the Socceroos 31-man squad, 10 are from the A-League, including uncapped trio Ruon Tongyik (Central Coast Mariners), Denis Genreau (Macarthur FC) and Connor Metcalfe (Melbourne City).
Other uncapped players in the squad are Blackpool midfielder Kenny Dougall, Croatia-born Brescia right back Fran Karacic, Birmingham City midfielder Riley McGree and SønderjyskE Fodbold goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas.
Former Melbourne Victory gloveman Thomas is one of four keepers chosen along with Arsenal’s Mat Ryan, Sydney FC’s Andrew Redmayne, and Danny Vukovic, who hasn’t played club football since leaving Belgium to return to Australia in March.
Recalled from the squad from selection wilderness are striker Nikita Rukavytsya and midfielder James Holland.
Rukavytsya, who plays in Israel for Maccabi Haifa, hasn’t represented Australia since 2018, while Austria-based Holland’s most recent of his 15 Socceroos caps came seven years ago.
But surprise omissions are playmakers Mooy and Rogic.
Mooy, who plays his club football in China with Shanghai Port, will use the FIFA break to return to the UK to see his family, while Celtic’s Rogic has a minor ankle injury.
“Aaron hasn’t seen his wife or kids since December,” Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said.
“He had one small period where he could go to see them, and I completely understand, otherwise he’s not going to see them for a full year.
“Tommy Rogic has a small injury to deal with and the only time he can get that better and get that ready is now.
“It is no secret that we had originally targeted to name this squad last week, however some challenges with Covid, as well as some injuries and personal circumstances, have meant some players were ruled out of the final reckoning.
“We have communicated at length with those players and will continue to support them
individually as they strive to return to the Socceroos later in the year.”
Arnold said the players selected had been rewarded “for their outstanding performances at their clubs over the past six to twelve months”.
“I have said many times that I believe that the strength of the Socceroos is through its young players,” he said.
“Along with my staff, I can’t wait to work with the many fresh faces in this squad as we continue to build the depth of the national team.
“Equally so, we are excited to work with the experienced and senior players we will have
with us, as together we strive to advance to the next round of qualifying with eight wins on our record.
“Our extended 31 player squad will provide us with the flexibility and adaptability that we will need given we will play four matches in 12 days, and the acclimatisation and preparation period that half of our squad will have here in the UAE will be crucial ahead of the first two games in Kuwait.”
While most of the A-League contingent will leave for the Socceroos camp after their weekend club commitments, Perth star Chris Ikonomidis will depart immediately and Western Sydney attacker Mitch Duke will leave after the Wanderers’ clash with Wellington Phoenix on Wednesday night.
Socceroos squad: Aziz Behich (Kayserispor, Turkey), Brandon Borrello (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany), Martin Boyle (Hibernian, Scotland), Milos Degenek (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Kenneth Dougall (Blackpool, England), Mitchell Duke (Western Sydney Wanderers), Denis Genreau (Macarthur FC), Apostolos Giannou (OFI Crete, Greece), Curtis Good (Melbourne City), Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC), James Holland (LASK Linz, Austria), Ajdin Hrustic (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Chris Ikonomidis (Perth Glory), Jackson Irvine (Hibernian, Scotland), Fran Karacic (Brescia Calcio, Italy), Mathew Leckie (Hertha BSC, Germany), Awer Mabil (FC Midtjylland, Denmark), Jamie Maclaren (Melbourne City), Ryan McGowan (Sydney FC), Riley McGree (Birmingham City FC, England), Connor Metcalfe (Melbourne City), Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC), Nikita Rukavytsya (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Mathew Ryan (Arsenal, England) Trent Sainsbury (KV Kortrijk, Belgium), Brad Smith (Seattle Sounders, USA), Harry Souttar (Stoke City, England), Adam Taggart (Cerezo Osaka, Japan), Lawrence Thomas (SønderjyskE Fodbold, Denmark), Ruon Tongyik (Central Coast Mariners, Danny Vukovic (KRC Genk, Belgium).
Originally published as Socceroos: Uncapped A-League trio Ruon Tongyik, Denis Genreau and Connor Metcalfe named in national squad
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