Socceroos recall Mitchell Duke as cover for Apostolos Giannou

Western Sydney striker Mitchell Duke has been called up to the Socceroos squad as cover for the injured Apostolos Giannou.

Western Sydney Wanderers striker Mitchell Duke has been called into the Socceroos squad for their World Cup qualifier against Jordan. Picture: AAP

Western Sydney striker Mitchell Duke has been called up to the Socceroos squad as cover for the injured Apostolos Giannou.

Striker Giannou, who plays for Cypriot top-flight side AEK Larnaca, has been forced to withdraw from Australia’s squad for Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Jordan due to a minor injury.

Duke, 29, has been in fine form for the Wanderers, scoring four goals in the opening five games of the A-League season.

Graham Arnold’s Socceroos currently sit on top of Group B with three wins from as many matches but will face their toughest test against the Jordanians, who sit second, in Amman.

Duke returned to Australia in January after four years in Japan with Shimizu S-Pulse, where he played 89 league matches, all but seven of them in the top flight.

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He has won five caps for Australia since making his Socceroos debut in a scoreless draw against South Korea in 2013.

The former Central Coast Mariners player scored his first international goal in a 3-2 defeat to Japan five days later in Seoul and scored again in his next match as Australia lost 3-2 to China at Jamsil Olympic Stadium.

After a six-year absence, Duke returned to national team duty in the Socceroos’ 1-0 defeat to South Korea in June.

AAP