Mathew Leckie content to remain in central striking role for the Socceroos
Socceroos stalwart Mathew Leckie happy to be used in ‘disciplined’ centre-forward role if it suits Australia best.
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Mathew Leckie will again happily sacrifice his preferred wing position to play as a centre-forward if it helps the Socceroos beat Peru and qualify for this year’s World Cup.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold pulled somewhat of a positional surprise in Australia’s 2-1 midweek playoff win over the United Arab Emirates when he used Leckie in the central striking role rather than wide on the left.
Playing Leckie centrally allowed Arnold to include dead-ball specialist Craig Goodwin, a left winger, in Australia’s starting team.
A thigh injury which ruled out centre-forward Adam Taggart may have also contributed to Leckie’s positional switch, although Arnold could have started with Jamie Maclaren, Mitch Duke or Nick D’Agostino as the No.9.
“The way we play, (central) striker’s a position where it’s a really disciplined role,” said the Melbourne City star, who was also used in the role earlier in Australia’s qualifying campaign.
“You try to keep the backline as deep as possible, stretch the pitch and that sometimes means that you don’t get too much of the ball, but there are also occasions when you might have the biggest chance of the game.
“Unfortunately the other night (against the UAE), I wasn’t able to get one of those chances, but there have been previous games where I have had those.
“We’ll see what happens for the next game. I don’t know what ‘Arnie’ is thinking but I’m up for playing central again, and there’s always the wing as well.”
After Goodwin was replaced by Maclaren with about 20 minutes to go against the UAE, Leckie reverted to his normal left wing role before he was substituted in the dying stages.
Socceroos legend John Aloisi doesn’t think the experiment to play Leckie in the central striking role will continue against Peru.
“I think (Arnold) might make a change there,” the Western United A-League championship-winning coach said.
“It’s difficult for Leckie playing as the No.9. He didn’t play there all season for Melbourne City. He played out wide.
“For me, that was a little bit of a surprise to see him used centrally against the UAE, and I thought Jamie (Maclaren) did well when he came on.
“Even though Leckie’s a top player who can play anywhere in the forward line, he’s better suited out wide.”
Leckie said the Socceroos would have to improve on their performance against the UAE to win the intercontinental playoff against Peru in Doha on Tuesday morning (AEST) and qualify for a fifth successive World Cup finals tournament.
“In every game there are always things you can work on and do better,” the 31-year-old attacker said.
“We reviewed the game and we saw the good things we did, and some things we need to fix up.
“It’s a one-off game and if we win we go to the World Cup, and I’m sure every single player will be giving their all to give us as a country and as players the opportunity to go to another World Cup.”
Originally published as Mathew Leckie content to remain in central striking role for the Socceroos
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