Graham Arnold takes chance to inject new blood into Socceroos squad

Sydney FC’s Brandon O'Neill has been included in the Socceroos squad for the first time. Picture: Getty Images

As someone who was involved in four World Cup campaigns as a player and three as an assistant coach, Graham Arnold knows just how tough they can be and the toll they can take on the mind and the body.

Now, as the man designated in his own right to getting Australia to the World Cup finals in Qatar in 2022, the Socceroos boss is leaving nothing to chance on what is going to be a nerve-racking and arduous qualifying campaign stretching out over the next 2½ years.

Sensibly, Arnold is using the friendly against South Korea in Korea early next month — Australia’s first game since the Asian Cup finals earlier this year — to try to build some solid depth in the national team ranks.

Having given his more experienced players like Mat Ryan, Danny Vukovic, Trent Sainsbury, Mark Milligan, Mathew Leckie, Robbie Kruse, Tom Rogic and Aaron Mooy time to mend their bodies and minds with a well-earned rest after what has been an exhausting three years of non-stop club and international football, Arnold has given a raft of new and fringe players a chance to push their claims. “The last couple of years have been tough on many of our senior players with little rest in between seasons. I know what those guys are capable of and I believe it is important they start their new campaigns with fresh bodies and minds,” Arnold said.

“They will all be considered again for our first round of qualifiers in September.”

Few can argue with his logic in selecting six debutants from the A-League and overseas: Brandon O’Neill, Andrew Redmayne, Lawrence Thomas, Brandon Borrello, Harry Souttar and Ryan Williams.

It is a squad with a mix of tried-and-tested in the A-League, some youth, some forgotten players and some who are being given another shot on the international stage. It is all designed to show Arnold, close up and in a camp environment, what they can do, which players he can rely on and who can handle the pressure.

“This international window gives me the chance to spend an extended time with those on the fringe as well as some of our more experienced players who have recently been missing from international football, but have been playing well for their respective clubs like Matthew Spiranovic, Rhys Williams, Adam Taggart, Bailey Wright, Josh Brillante and Brad Smith,” Arnold said.

The Socceroos boss should be applauded for including Sydney FC midfielder O’Neill, a player who developed superbly under him when he was coach at the Sky Blues. O’Neill, who was on the radar of the Republic of Ireland, has had three standout seasons in the A-League.

Perth Glory left-back Jason Davidson has suffered because of the outstanding depth in that position. He had a superb season with Glory and was one of the best players in Sunday’s grand final.

After five seasons overseas, Davidson came back to resurrect his national team career. He has fallen just short, but his time will come.