Socceroos star Aaron Mooy to miss friendly against Kuwait after suffering groin injury playing for Huddersfield
THE fresh-faced look to Graham Arnold’s first Socceroos squad has been accentuated with a fifth uncapped player, midfielder Kenny Dougall, added in the wake of Aaron Mooy’s withdrawal.
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UPDATE: THE fresh-faced look to Graham Arnold’s first Socceroos squad has been accentuated with a fifth uncapped player, midfielder Kenny Dougall, added in the wake of Aaron Mooy’s withdrawal.
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Dougall, who quit Dutch football to join Barnsley in the off-season, will join the squad in Dubai as it prepares for next week’s friendly with Kuwait.
Scans on a groin strain convinced Mooy to sit out the trip to the Middle East, joining goalkeeper Mat Ryan in standing down.
“I have spoken to Aaron as well as Huddersfield’s Sporting Director Olaf Rebbe, and our medical teams have also been in communication over the past 48 hours,” Arnold said.
“While it’s a pity that Aaron won’t be joining us for this camp, Aaron’s ability and importance to both teams is clear, so it is paramount that we help him manage his fitness for the long term benefit of both club and country.
“Kenny (Dougall) performed strongly in his first Socceroos camp in Turkey, and will now receive another opportunity to impress.”
With temperatures in the upper thirties expected for the game early on Tuesday morning (AEDT), Socceroos staff have prescribed detailed measures for the players to avoid the effects of long-haul travel.
“They (the Socceroos medical staff) are always on the ball in terms of nutrition, hydration, everything like that,” said fullback Josh Risdon who flew from Australia on Sunday. “It is good to get advice to improve your playing performance.
“They got in touch with us before the flight and told us when we should be sleeping, when to be having caffeine, and when to hydrate because we are going to be coming into a hot climate, something that a lot of players aren’t used to be playing in.”
“It’s going to be tough but everyone has taken on board the instructions from the staff and hopefully that can prepare us for the game.”
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