Melbourne City dominates Olyroos selections in A-League heavy squad

The newly independent A-League has contributed all but one of the 24 players selected for Australia’s upcoming under-23 internationals in a major coup for the domestic competition.

Connor Metcalfe of Melbourne City during the FFA Cup Round of 32 match between Campbelltown City and Melbourne City at Steve Woodcock Sports Centre in Adelaide. Wednesday, July 31, 2019. (AAP Image/David Mariuz) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Melbourne City’s impressive production line has been rewarded with five selections for the Olyroos’ upcoming games against New Zealand, with Connor Metcalfe earning a maiden call-up.

A-League expansion club Western United’s investment in youth has also been rewarded, with Seb Pasquali, Apostolos Stametolopoulos and Ivan Vujica called up.

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Midfielder Connor Metcalfe has been called up to the Olyroos squad for the first time. Picture: AAP Image

Defender Tommy Deng is the only Victory player in the 24-man squad, who face the Kiwis on September 6 and 9 in NSW.

Gary van Egmond is standing in for coach Graham Arnold, who kicks off World Cup qualifying with the Socceroos.

Denmark-based Alex Gersbach is the only overseas-based player, while new Wellington signing, Melbourne product Reno Piscopo has been named.

Graham Arnold will miss the Olyroos games due to Socceroos commitments, with Gary van Egmond stepping in. Picture: Getty Images

Nathaniel Atkinson, Denis Genreau, keeper Thomas Glover and Lachlan Wales are the other City players, while Central Coast attacker Daniel De Silva is among the first-team regulars.

“This squad is starting to spend a lot of valuable time together, after the qualification tournament in March in Cambodia, these games in New South Wales and more planned before the end of the year, we think we will be well placed once the Olympic qualifiers come around,” he said.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos came off the bench in his Western United debut on Thursday night. Picture: Getty Images

“The majority of our squad stems from the A-League and it gives these young players an opportunity to continue to work towards a goal we have set, the first qualification at the Olympics for an Australian men’s team since 2008.”

The Olyroos travel to Thailand in January to compete in the 2020 AFC Under 23 Championship, where the top three teams qualify for Tokyo 2020.

OLYROOS SQUAD FOR NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONALS

Name Club

Nathaniel ATKINSON, Melbourne City

Keanu BACCUS, Western Sydney Wanderers

George BLACKWOOD, Adelaide United

Lachlan BROOK, Adelaide United

Nick D’AGOSTINO, Perth Glory

Daniel DE SILVA, Central Coast Mariners

Thomas DENG, Melbourne Victory

Denis GENREAU, Melbourne City

Alex GERSBACH, AGF, Denmark

Thomas GLOVER, Melbourne City

Tom HEWARD-BELLE, Sydney FC

Daniel MARGUSH, Adelaide United

Riley McGREE, Adelaide United

Connor METCALFE, Melbourne City

Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS, Western Sydney Wanderers

Aiden O’NEILL, Brisbane Roar

Connor O’TOOLE, Brisbane Roar

Sebastian PASQUALI, Western United

Kye ROWLES, Central Coast Mariners

Tate RUSSELL, Western Sydney Wanderers

Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS, Western United

Ivan VUJICA, Western United

Lachlan WALES, Melbourne City

Brandon WILSON, Perth Glory

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES — AUSTRALIA U-23 V NEW ZEALAND U-23

Date: Friday, 6 September 2019 Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong Kick-off: 7.30pm

Date: Monday, 9 September 2019 Venue: Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown Kick-off: 7.30pm