Socceroos winger Martin Boyle ruled out of World Cup qualifier with Bangladesh

Hampered by knee swelling, Martin Boyle will fly straight to Kuwait for the Socceroos’ meeting with Palestine rather than play against Bangladesh.

Martin Boyle has been ruled out of Australia’s clash with Bangladesh. Picture: Ryan Pierse – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Socceroos star Martin Boyle is being kept in cotton wool for Australia’s clash with Palestine next week due to knee swelling that stopped him from flying to Melbourne for Thursday night’s World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh.

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold revealed on Wednesday that a safety-first approach had been taken with the 30-year-old winger after consultation with medical staff from his Scottish club side Hibernian.

Arnold explained that swelling had developed around the knee that required surgery for the torn anterior cruciate ligament that kept him out of last year’s World Cup in Qatar.

Boyle was an unused substitute for Hibs’ 2-2 draw with St. Mirren last Thursday but started for the Edinburgh-based club in its 1-0 weekend win over Kilmarnock.

Martin Boyle will miss the Socceroos’ World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh. Picture: Christopher Lee/Getty Images

“He pulled up well, but after speaking to the medical staff from his club, they were a little bit concerned that he wouldn’t (be able to) fly out to Australia,” Arnold said.

“It was just mainly down to the fact that it was on the knee that had the ACL, the swelling, and the long flight that could have made his knee swell up again.

“The best thing to do was to leave him over in Scotland.”

Arnold also spoke to Hibs manager, former Central Coast Mariners coach Nick Montgomery, about Boyle’s situation, and was “100 per cent” sure the attacker would be fit for the Socceroos’ battle with Palestine in neutral Kuwait next Wednesday morning (AEDT).

“(Boyle) trained for four days with Hibs, and he’ll join us as soon as we get across to Kuwait,” the Socceroos coach said.

Apart from Boyle, the Socceroos will be at full strength for the clash with the Bangladeshis at AAMI Park.

“I believe in putting out our strongest 11 at the moment and going out there and getting the job done,” Arnold said.

“The full focus is then on Palestine in Kuwait.”

The expected win over Bangladesh will be the ideal way for Arnold to celebrate setting a new record for the most number of ‘A’ internationals for a Socceroos coach.

Arnold’s pre-match message to his players in his 59th game in charge will be simple and direct.

“Show your skills, show your qualities. We’re going to have the ball a lot so use it to the best that you can,” he said in explaining what he will tell his players.

“I use the words in camp a lot of backyard football, and backyard football is show the tricks, show the back heels, the flicks and imagination.

“I can’t teach them that in two days (in camp). They’ve already got that.”