Sydney FC, WSW A-League quartet in Olyroos call-up for AFC u23 Championship
UPDATED: Four players from Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers were called on to help Australia make the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but one has missed the plane due to injury.
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It came at the worst possible time – an injury just before he was due to fly out of Australia with the Olyroos.
Pymble goalie Thomas Heward-Belle has now been replaced in the side to push Australia’s claims for a spot at the Tokyo Olympics by Adelaide United goalkeeper Daniel Margush.
Heward-Belle sustained an muscle injury in the back of his knee in Sunday’s Foxtel Y-League encounter against Central Coast Mariners in Kogarah.
A medical assessment saw him ruled out for the trip to Asia.
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Even if he recovers earlier, rules dictate he cannot return to the pitch for Sydney FC until the end of the Olyroos international campaign.
As a result Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers will both be without two players each for A-League clashes in January due to players from the Sydney clubs making the cut for the Olyroos Asian titles campaign in Thailand.
The AFC under 23 Championship in Thailand is crucial for Australia’s Tokyo Olympic campaign with coach Graham Arnold naming a powerful 23-strong squad on Monday for the event.
Australia has not played at the Olympics since the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Pymble’s Tom Heward-Belle was originally named in the squad alongside Central Coast player and Sydney FC teammate Trent Buhagiar.
The Wanderers have also lost two players to the campaign in midfielder Keanu Baccus from Blacktown and centre-back Tass Mourdoukoutas.
“To finalise the 23 players for this tournament was no simple task – we had over 50 players on our radar for this tournament, so we will arrive in Thailand with a strong squad and one that I believe will represent Australia well,” Arnold said.
The squad in Malaysia for a pre-tournament training camp and an international friendly against Korea Republic on Friday before travelling to Bangkok to prepare for group one matches against Iraq, Thailand and Bahrain.
“Our target in Thailand is to become the under 23 champions of Asia, and we know if we can achieve that further opportunities will come the team’s way in 2020,” Arnold said.
The team boasts 14 players representing eight A-League clubs, with nine members of Graham Arnold’s squad set to arrive in South-East Asia from overseas-based teams.
“Supporters in Australia will be familiar with many of the Hyundai A-League-based players in the squad but I am excited for the football community to learn more about some of the overseas-based boys throughout January too,’’ he said.
“There are some fantastic young players in our squad with the potential to progress to the Socceroos in the coming years.”
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Originally published as Sydney FC, WSW A-League quartet in Olyroos call-up for AFC u23 Championship