Boyle in doubt for World Cup as Socceroos fly in back-up plan

Doha: The Socceroos have flown in Melbourne City winger Marco Tilio as a standby player, heightening concerns that Martin Boyle — one of Graham Arnold’s first-choice attacking options — may not be passed fit for their World Cup mission.

Boyle is yet to train on the pitch with the team in Doha as he continues to rehab the knee injury he suffered for Scottish Premiership side Hibernian on October 19 against Australia teammate Keanu Baccus’ St Mirren — his last outing at club level.

While the 29-year-old had been told by doctors he would be able to play if he could push through the pain barrier, the fact that Tilio has landed at their Aspire Academy base as a back-up plan does not bode well for his chances.

It would be a particularly cruel blow for Boyle if he was to be ruled out of the World Cup as he also missed the Socceroos’ last major tournament, the 2019 Asian Cup, due to a knee injury picked up in a warm-up friendly.

Born and raised in Scotland but eligible to play for Australia through his Sydney-born father, this may be Boyle’s one and only chance to play on football’s biggest stage given his age.

“Over the years, everyone can see what a big player he is,” said Socceroos teammate Cameron Devlin, who plays for Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian’s crosstown rivals in Edinburgh.

Martin Boyle’s World Cup campaign is in doubt after the Socceroos flew in Marco Tilio as a possible replacement in their 26-man squad.Credit: Getty

“He does it week-in, week-out over in Scotland for Hibs, he’s a massive player for them and takes that into for his country, for Australia.

“I think he’ll be alright, it’s just precautionary. Obviously, we don’t want to take risks. We’ve got the first game in a week ... but if he wasn’t to play it’d be a massive loss.”

While the Socceroos are still confident he will be able to play, Tilio’s arrival gives Arnold the opportunity to pull the trigger on a squad change, with FIFA rules giving him up until 24 hours before their opening game against France on November 23 (AEDT) to make any player swaps due to medical reasons.

A certain starter when fit, Boyle is one of a number of Socceroos players who came into camp under an injury cloud, along with skipper Maty Ryan (knee), attacking midfielder Ajdin Hrustic (ankle) and central defenders Harry Souttar (knee) and Kye Rowles (foot).

Martin Boyle is yet to train with the Socceroos in Doha.Credit: Getty

All those players trained on Tuesday afternoon (local time) — as did Tilio, who linked up with the Socceroos on Tuesday morning — but Boyle was nowhere to be seen.

Capped five times for Australia, Tilio was part of Arnold’s squad for June’s World Cup play-offs and September’s friendly series against New Zealand but was overlooked for Qatar due to his benching for Melbourne City in the early weeks of the A-League season.

Tilio, 21, did hit form in the later rounds and managed to squeeze out Andrew Nabbout — who started up front for the Socceroos in all three matches at Russia 2018 — from City’s starting line-up, but left his run too late to supplant the other players in Australia’s pecking order on the wing and earn selection.

However, Boyle’s misfortune could yet open the door for the opportunity of a lifetime for Tilio, who is seen as one of the most exciting young players of his generation in Australia.

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