In-form midfielder Nectarios Triantis edging closer to a Socceroos debut

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic is considering his selection options ahead of Australia’s games in March against Indonesia and China.

The impressive form of uncapped A-League championship-winning midfielder Nectarios Triantis has caught the eye of Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, who hasn’t ruled out “blooding” more players when Australia resumes its FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in March.

Triantis, who was part of Central Coast’s title-winning 2022-23 squad, has starred for Scottish Premiership club Hibernian, where he is on loan from English Championship club Sunderland.

The 21-year-old defensive midfielder – whose Hibs teammates include Socceroos Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller, as well as another Australian in defender Jack Iredale – produced a man-of-the-match performance, that included a goal, in Hibs’ 3-1 weekend win over Motherwell.

Hibs manager David Gray was full of praise for the versatile Triantis, who can also play as a central defender, following the match.

A brilliant goal to cap a POTM performance from Nectar Triantis 🙌 pic.twitter.com/3m2hXeCgCl

— Hibernian Football Club (@HibernianFC) January 12, 2025

“You can clearly see he’s getting better all the time, which is great,” Gray said.

“He’s still young. You forget how young he is, only a 21-year-old, and he’s got that attitude and desire to keep improving, that’s the big thing.

“As a coach, it’s brilliant to work with players like that, who are desperate to improve.”

Triantis’ form also hasn’t been lost on Popovic ahead of the Socceroos’ games against Indonesia (March 20, Sydney) and China (March 25, Hangzhou).

“We’ve been watching him for months,” Popovic said on Tuesday.

“His team’s in really good form … so that obviously helps as well. We’ve got a few Aussies in that team and they’re all contributing and making a difference to the success that they’re having at the moment and certainly Triantis is one of those.

“We may blood someone else but they’ll have to earn it, and they’ll have to deserve to be with the Socceroos.

“(Since Popovic was appointed national coach in September) we have blooded some players, especially in the backline.

“Jason Geria came in after making his debut eight years earlier, Hayden Matthews, young 20-year-old came and played against Bahrain, so we’re open to the idea of bringing in players, but they have to fit in with the style of play that we like to play.

“We’re looking, we’re actively searching, and at any moment, someone can come through and have a great period of games and surprise everyone and get into the Socceroos.”

The biggest ever Subway #Socceroos match in Perth? Tony Popovic sets the scene 🏟️

‘I felt that stadium rocking, we certainly need everyone to get behind us [in June]’ 🔥

📺 Watch today’s full press conference with our head coach in the West Australian capital via Football… pic.twitter.com/kA2Mlf6ojb

— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 14, 2025

One player who won’t be part of Australia’s squad in March is key defender Harry Souttar, who is sidelined for several months after rupturing his Achilles tendon playing for Sheffield United in the English Championship last month.

“I have spoken to Harry. Obviously, the first couple of days there was a lot of disappointment,” Popovic said.

“He was playing very well and Sheffield United was at the top of the table in the Championship, and he was a real contributor to that, so he’s disappointed, but as a professional you learn that you do have setbacks.

“He knows that this will be a longer term recovery but all we can do is just be there for him and support him in any way we can.”