Mathew Leckie and Jamie Maclaren causing concern for Socceroos
Mat Ryan’s fractured cheekbone is expected to recover in time for the Asian Cup, but there are doubts over the fitness of two Melbourne City players.
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The Socceroos are confident that injured captain and goalkeeper Mat Ryan will be available for the Asian Cup, but are sweating on the fitness of Melbourne City attacking pair Mathew Leckie and Jamie Maclaren.
Veteran winger Leckie, who had only just returned from a knee injury, damaged his hamstring in Melbourne City’s 1-1 AFC Champions League draw with Chinese club Zhejiang on Tuesday night at Ikon Park.
City and the Socceroos – whose Asian Cup campaign starts in Qatar on January 13 against India – were awaiting late on Wednesday for scan results which will reveal the extent of Leckie’s injury.
There are also concerns about the extent of an ankle injury hampering key striker Maclaren.
Unable to start against Zhejiang, the 30-year-old marksman was visibly restricted after coming on as a second-half substitute.
However, in better news for the Socceroos, belief is high that Ryan will be fit for the Asian Cup despite having suffered a fractured cheekbone on Sunday during a training session with his Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.
The 31-year-old has undergone surgery and is on the road to recovery.
It’s understood that the Socceroos are confident Ryan will be able to play, most likely in a facial mask, in their tournament opener against India.
There is also a slight chance Ryan could be fit for Australia’s warm-up game against Bahrain a week earlier.
Football Australia must submit a 50-man preliminary Socceroos squad to the Asian Football Confederation by Thursday.
It’s expected that as many as seven goalkeepers – Ryan, Joe Gauci (Adelaide United), Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC), Lawrence Thomas (Western Sydney Wanderers), Paul Izzo (Melbourne Victory), Tom Glover (Middlesbrough) and Ashley Maynard-Brewer (Charlton Athletic) – will be included in the preliminary squad.
Australia’s final squad of 23 players – set to be announced on December 22 – will include three keepers.
However, a fourth custodian will probably also make the trip to Qatar as cover for Ryan should there be a setback in his recovery before the start of the tournament.
Originally published as Mathew Leckie and Jamie Maclaren causing concern for Socceroos
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