Socceroos: Jamie Maclaren, Craig Goodwin get call-up from Arnold
GRAHAM Arnold has hinted Craig Goodwin is in the frame to make the Socceroos squad proper for this month’s second home friendly against Lebanon.
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UPDATE: GRAHAM Arnold has hinted Craig Goodwin is in the frame to make the Socceroos squad proper for this month’s second home friendly against Lebanon, declaring the A-League’s form player “gives us something completely different”.
Adelaide United’s FFA Cup hero is among a quartet of domestic train-on players in the squad to face South Korea at Suncorp Stadium next Saturday.
Sydney FC defender Rhyan Grant, Melbourne Victory’s Thomas Deng and Newcastle’s Dimi Petratos were also named on Thursday, swelling coach Arnold’s 23-man squad to 27 as he looks to build vital depth ahead of January’s Asian Cup defence.
While it’s expected none of the train-on quartet will play in Brisbane, they’ll spend the week in camp pressing their case in the knowledge they could be elevated when Arnold names a new batch to play Lebanon at ANZ Stadium on November 20.
Scotland-born winger Martin Boyle has already been brought into the fold and has now obtained international clearance, putting him in line for a debut on his first visit to Australia.
But with World Cup starlet Daniel Arzani about to undergo a knee reconstruction, goal-hungry Goodwin could yet work his way into a new front-three set-up Arnold has likened in style to Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.
“Craig gives us something different because he’s really the only left-footed left winger we have,” Arnold said.
“My style is flexible during the game, I’ve been known to change tactics three or four times during the game and he gives us something completely different.
“Craig is a great example of work hard, perform well in the A-League and you’ll get recognised and rewarded.
“He’s had a great start to the season, he’s come back with a great mentality, and right throughout the FFA Cup he was very, very good.”
Arnold named Perth Glory pair Jason Davidson and Chris Ikonomidis as players under the microscope and said Melbourne City whiz Riley McGree was close to a recall.
Grant, meanwhile, has already made his mark on return from a long-term ACL injury and will reunite with his former Sky Blues coach to add depth to the traditionally problematic right-back role.
“Rhino (Grant) was in the squad with Ange, and he got there on credit and how well he’s doing,” Arnold said.
“The kid’s come back enormously well after an ACL. It’s like he hasn’t missed a beat when I had him at Sydney.
“He’s a player we want to look at closely.”
Austria-based James Jeggo was also recalled and could finally make his Socceroos debut, but it’s the return of Jamie Maclaren and Andrew Nabbout that offers front-third intrigue.
Maclaren, a Hibernian teammate of both Boyle and Mark Milligan, missed last month’s 4-0 friendly win over Kuwait through injury but will reignite fierce competition for the No.9 role with incumbent Tomi Juric and perhaps even Nabbout, who was Bert van Marwijk’s preferred World Cup striker and has made a premature recovery from the serious shoulder injury sustained in Russia.
The ex-Brisbane Roar striker’s inclusion means there’s not enough room for Apostolos Giannou, who started up front against Kuwait and scored.
“I spoke to Giannou last night and explained to him why he wasn’t in the squad for this one,” Arnold said.
“He did great for me in Kuwait but it’s more about me getting the opportunity to look at Jamie Maclaren and Andrew Nabbout, to tick every box with these players and give them the opportunity.
“Jamie was in the World Cup squad, Jamie had fantastic seasons at Brisbane ... I know Neil Lennon holds him in high regard.”
World No.53 South Korea looms as the Socceroos’ second-last opponent before going into Asian Cup camp just after Christmas.
“These two games are very important,” Arnold said.
“South Korea are one of the powerhouses in Asia, as well as the other three teams in Saudi Arabia, Japan and Iran.
“They won games at the World Cup and they’re the level we need to get to.”
SOCCEROOS SQUAD: Mustafa Amini, Aziz Behich, Martin Boyle, Milos Degenek, Alex Gersbach, Jackson Irvine, James Jeggo, Tomi Juric, Matt Jurman, Robbie Kruse, Mitch Langerak, Mathew Leckie, Massimo Luongo, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Andrew Nabbout, Josh Risdon, Tom Rogic, Mathew Ryan, Trent Sainsbury, Danny Vukovic Train-on players: Thomas Deng, Craig Goodwin, Rhyan Grant, Dimi Petratos
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