Chris Ikonomidis set for Asian Cup spot

When Graham Arnold names his squad for the Asian Cup finals today, Chris Ikonomidis’s decision to return home should pay off.

Perth Glory’s Chris Ikonomidis has impressed Socceroos coach Graham Arnold

Chris Ikonomidis came back to Australia to kickstart his career and put himself in contention for a recall to the Socceroos.

It is a move that should pay off with the young Perth Glory attacker set to be named in Graham Arnold’s 23-man squad tomorrow for the Asian Cup finals in the United Arab Emirates next month.

With five goals and two assists in the opening eight games of the season, Ikonomidis’s exceptional form has been one of the keys to Glory’s unbeaten run that sees the Perth team sitting pretty at the top of the table.

Arnold is known to be impressed with the 23-year-old and believes he could be an X-factor as the Socceroos look to defend the title they won at home in 2015.

After three years in Europe, the Cronulla-born Ikonomidis signed a three-year deal with Perth at the start of the season.

He had been on the books of Italian Serie A club Lazio, but while he didn’t get to play in a league match, he debuted for them in a Europa Cup game. He also had loan stints at Serie B club Salernitana and Danish club AGF. He had a stint with Western Sydney Wanderers last season, playing 10 games and scoring seven times before returning to Lazio.

Ikonomidis, capped six times for Australia, is one of a number of A-League players who have made a late charge for selection, with Adelaide United’s Craig Goodwin and Melbourne Victory’s Terry Antonis also in contention.

Goodwin’s early form saw him included in Arnold’s squad for the two friendlies, against South Korea and Lebanon, although he did not get any game time. The fact he is a left-sided player could count in his favour.

Antonis, who was part of the winning Asian Cup squad in 2015, has been outstanding for Victory and has benefited from the influence of Japanese star Keisuke Honda and Swedish striker Ola Toivonen at the club.

It is doubtful all three will fit into Arnold’s plans. But the coach’s biggest selection dilemma involves Aaron Mooy, who is expected to be sidelined with medial ligament damage for two months, according to the star midfielder’s English club Huddersfield.

Arnold will deploy the Socceroos medical team to England to conduct its own assessment, but that won’t happen until next week.

The Socceroos boss is likely to include Mooy in the squad on the chance that, while Mooy would miss the group matches, he could play in the knockout stage.

Under the AFC rules, Arnold can make changes to his squad up until the day before the opening game against Jordan on January 6.

Germany-based Robbie Kruse has recovered from an abductor muscle injury that sidelined him for several weeks and is expected to be named in the squad.

Possible squad (with one to be omitted): Mat Ryan, Danny Vuko­vic, Mitch Langerak; Aziz Behich, Alex Gersbach, Josh Risdon, Rhyan Grant; Mark Milligan, Trent Sainsbury, Milos Degenek, Matthew Jurman; Massimo Luongo, Jackson Irvine, James Jeggo, Mustafa Amini, Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic; Martin Boyle, Robbie Kruse, Chris Ikonomidis, Awer Mabil; Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren, Andrew Nabbout.