Jamie Maclaren cleared to link with Socceroos for World Cup matches

Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren has been cleared to join the Socceroos squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Melbourne City’s Jamie Maclaren, left, with teammate Scott Galloway. Picture: AAP

Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren has been cleared to join the Socceroos squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, leaving coach Erick Mombaerts slightly perplexed.

The Frenchman admits he’s never experienced an overlap between club and international football — let alone in Round 1 — as he plots the downfall of derby rivals Melbourne Victory on Saturday week.

Maclaren looks set to be among at least three A-League inclusions in Graham Arnold’s squad named on Friday for the qualifiers against Nepal on October 10 and Chinese Taipei on October 15.

Sydney FC will be most affected, with Andrew Redmayne and Rhyan Grant set to miss their opener.

Otherwise it will be all overseas-based players, with Arnold set to name an unchanged squad from last month’s win in Kuwait — barring any late injuries.

Mombaerts, who has coached in France and Japan, was thrilled for Maclaren but was in limbo minus his in-form striker who has scored six goals in four FFA Cup games.

“The best preparation was to qualify for the (FFA Cup) final, it was a great moment. Now we focus more on the derby,” Mombaerts said.

“But I’m just a bit disappointed because we have to play this important game without Jamie Maclaren, our best player.

“I’m happy for Jamie. It’s an unusual situation for me to start the championship during an international break. It’s the first time I face this problem. But I’m not complaining about this.

“We have to (make do). We have to focus on things we can control.”

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Melbourne Victory defender Thomas Deng is a strong chance to be picked having been chosen in the squad for last month’s World Cup qualifying campaign opener against Kuwait.

Victory recruit Andrew Nabbout will also be keen to regain his Socceroos spot after missing out on the Kuwait squad, though veteran forward Robbie Kruse (hamstring) is unlikely to be named due to a lack of fitness.

Arnold has already confirmed Celtic’s Tom Rogic will not be picked as he continues his journey back to full fitness from a knee injury, and due to his upcoming wedding.

Key European-based names such as Mathew Ryan, Mathew Leckie and Aaron Mooy are set to be named, however.

Leckie scored twice and Mooy was also on the scoresheet in the 3-0 win over Kuwait but it’s understood both may play limited minutes against Group B minnows Nepal and Taiwan to give Arnold a chance to look at his fringe players.

Captain Mark Milligan, who withdrew from the Kuwait squad due to injury, played a full 90 minutes on the weekend for English League One club Southend United and is expected to be named.

Nepal were thrashed 7-0 by Kuwait in their group opener but rebounded to post a 2-0 win over Taiwan, who are bottom of the group having lost their first two matches.

Meanwhile, classy former Socceroo midfielder Mark Bresciano and ex-Matildas defender Amy Duggan have joined the FFA board.

The ex-players have taken up director positions and bring considerable playing experience to the board.

Bresciano played 84 times for Australia and was a member of the Socceroos squads at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

Since retiring he has done consultancy work with FFA, including being on the advisory panel to find a new coach for the 2018 World Cup following Ange Postecoglou’s resignation in 2017.

Duggan played 27 matches for the Matildas between 1997 and 2005 and has since forged a career in broadcast media.

HERALD SUN, AAP