Nestory Irankunda fit for Socceroos games despite training mishap

A training setback hasn’t kept Nestory Irankunda out Australia’s squad for FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bahrain and Indonesia.

Nestory Irankunda has been named in the latest Socceroos squad. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda has survived an injury scare at a Bayern Munich training session to be named in the Socceroos squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bahrain and Indonesia.

The former A-League prodigy screamed in agony after being tackled by Bayern midfielder Joao Palhinha at training midweek.

Players surrounded the 18-year-old winger as he was treated by medical staff.

Eventually Irankunda was taken from the field on a golf-style buggy,

However, fears were eased when he was reportedly seen leaving the training ground on foot.

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold last week said he would have no hesitation naming Irankunda in his squad for next Thursday’s clash with Bahrain on the Gold Coast and the September 10 game against Indonesia in Jakarta.

The former Adelaide United star – who debuted for the Socceroos in June – has made an encouraging start to his Bayern career and continues to push for a spot in the club’s Bundesliga squad.

Palhinha le dejó un recuerdo hoy a Irankunda que se sintió en toda Sabener Strasse.

Por suerte Nestory está bien 🥵 pic.twitter.com/dhHRiLb0LW

— 🎧 Servus Bayern Podcast (@ServusBayernPod) August 28, 2024

Among those to join him in the Socceroos squad is another former Adelaide winger, Awer Mabil, who is enjoying a club career revival with Swiss outfit Grasshoppers.

The most recent of Mabil’s 33 appearances for the Socceroos was in October last year in Australia’s 1-0 loss to England at Wembley.

Any hopes Mabil had of being included in the Socceroos’ squad for the Asian Cup in January-February were dashed by injury and he has missed Australia’s past 13 games.

The Socceroos squad also includes Queenslander and former Melbourne City midfielder Aiden O’Neill, who has made a good start to the European season as captain of Belgian top-flight club Standard Liege.

O’Neill, 26, was a member of Australia’s Asian Cup squad but was sent off in the Socceroos’ 2-1 quarter-final loss to South Korea.

Suspension and injury has led to his non-selection in squads for the Socceroos’ past four matches.

Defender Lewis Miller, who plays his club football for Scottish club Hibernian, has also been recalled to the national squad.

Miller also hasn’t played for the Socceroos since the Asian Cup.

In the absence of injured duo Ryan Strain and Gethin Jones, as well as Nathaniel Atkinson, who is on the outer at his Scottish club Hearts, Miller and Japan-based Thomas Deng are will be locked in battle for Australia’s right-back spot.

Arnold was said it was “extremely important” the Socceroos started the AFC third-round World Cup qualifiers strongly.

“Our full focus is on these opening two games and starting strongly,” he said.

“Two positive results to open round three not only builds belief within the group but gives us great momentum as we move into what will be three consecutive windows.

“The standards we set are always high and they’ve played a significant role in the growth of this group and what we were able to achieve in round two.

“The players understand what’s expected of them in terms of their focus, preparation and energy in camp as we move into the next stage of qualification.

“We’ve got a great mix of players who’ve been through this phase of qualification before and can lead the way for some of the younger members of our squad, their experience will play an important role throughout this journey.”

Only two A-League players – Perth striker Adam Taggart and Melbourne City defender Aziz Behich – have been named in a squad that is also missing injured Belgian-based left-back Jordan Bos and Scotland-based striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, who is also sidelined with injury.

Socceroos: Keanu Baccus, Aziz Behich, Martin Boyle, Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Thomas Deng, Cameron Devlin, Mitchell Duke, Joe Gauci, Craig Goodwin, Nestory Irankunda, Jackson Irvine, Paul Izzo, Awer Mabil, Connor Metcalfe, Lewis Miller, Joshua Nisbet, Aiden O’Neill, Kye Rowles, Mat Ryan, Sam Silvera, Harry Souttar, Adam Taggart, Kusini Yengi.