James Holland and Ryan McGowan to feature in strong Socceroos XI versus South Africa

MIDFIELDER James Holland looms as the beneficiary of Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak’s injury absence.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 20: James Holland of the Socceroos poses during an Australian Socceroos portrait session at Crowne Plaza Terrigal on May 20, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

MIDFIELDER James Holland looms as the beneficiary of captain Mile Jedinak’s injury absence, after coach Ange Postecoglou gave a maiden glimpse of a potential line-up against South Africa tomorrow night.

And China-based Ryan McGowan appears set to get first crack at securing one of the stoppers positions amid the Socceroos’ defensive crisis that’s claimed Rhys Williams (achilles) and leaves Curtis Good (hip flexor) struggling.

Austria Vienna midfielder Holland has yet to play a minute under Ange Postecoglou, but started in a three-man midfield alongside Mark Bresciano and Mark Milligan in an 11-a-side game at Kogarah’s WIN Jubilee Oval.

Socceroos training in Kogarah. Picture: George Salpigtidis

The line up indicated Postecoglou will play close to his strongest XI at ANZ Stadium, with Tim Cahill leading a three-pronged attack that included Matthew Leckie and Tommy Oar.

Playmaker Tommy Rogic, who hasn’t played since April 5 due to a groin problem, may appear off the bench after he came on for the B-team, replacing Newcastle Jets’ Adam Taggart.

Williams and Lucas Neill were Postecoglou’s defensive pairing in Postecoglou’s debut against Costa Rica, while Good played with Western Sydney’s Spiranovic against Ecuador.

With Neill omitted and Good yet to train fully, Shandong Luneng’s McGowan partnered Spiranovic yesterday in a 4-3-3 and said a huge opportunity had opened up on the eve of Brazil.

“A few of the boys have got niggles or are out and everyone knows about Lucas so it’s an opportunity for somebody to step in,’’ McGowan said.

“I’m hoping if I get the chance I can perform well and stay in the team.

“I’ve been in and around the squad for two-and-a-half years now, it’s been a long time between the (eight) caps but I know how it goes.

“That was probably the first indication of maybe what he was thinking about,

“But like he said in training it was just something he wanted to look at and they haven’t made any final decisions.

“So if you’re in the so-called starting 11 now, you make sure you’re doing good stuff at training and not getting out of it.’’

Socceroos training in Kogarah. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Holland was dropped after the 2-2 draw with Oman in March 2013 and reappeared seven months later at right-back in Holger Oseick’s last game, the 6-0 debacle away to France.

Though picked in both of Postecoglou’s squads thus far, Holland has yet to appear.

Holland, who’s made 12 appearances since making his debut in 2008, is a tireless midfielder who made his Champions League debut this season.

The likes of Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town), Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar) and Adam Sarota (FC Utrecht, Netherlands) are competing for midfield spots.

Good and keeper Mitch Langerak (knee) were the only players who didn’t train yesterday, while Jedinak and Dario Vidosic did light work, the latter due to a recent heavy workload with Swiss club FC Sion.

The entire Socceroos squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. BACK ROW — Massimo Luongo, Oliver Bozanic, James Troisi, Ivan Franjic, Ryan McGowan, Adam Sarota, James Holland, Adam Taggart, Bailey Wright, Joshua Brillante. MIDDLE ROW — Tommy Rogic, Curtis Good, Mark Birighitti, Mitchell Langerak, Alex Wilkinson, Josh Kennedy, Matthew Spiranovic, Eugene Galekovic, Mathew Ryan, Ben Halloran, Jason Davidson. FRONT ROW — Matthew McKay, Matthew Leckie, Dario Vidosic, Tim Cahill, Ange Postecoglou (coach), Mile Jedinak, Mark Bresciano, Mark Milligan, Luke Wilkshire and Tommy Oar. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Originally published as James Holland and Ryan McGowan to feature in strong Socceroos XI versus South Africa