Sydney FC centre-back Alex Grant in reckoning for a call-up to Socceroos squad

With a host of Socceroos defenders injured, a recent addition to Sydney FC’s squad has emerged as an option for national team coach Tony Popovic.

A spate of injuries to Socceroos centre-backs has led to recent Sydney FC signing Alex Grant zooming into selection contention for Australia’s upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China.

The uncapped Grant, 31, joined Sydney in the January-February transfer window following a stint in China with Tianjin Jinmen.

The Sky Blues have taken a slow approach with Grant, with the former Perth Glory centre-back – who also had a three-year stint with South Korean club Pohang Steelers – having played just one A-League game since signing with Sydney.

However, he has started in two crucial AFC Champions League Two matches for the Sky Blues, and is set to again be in the heart of Sydney’s defence on Thursday night for his team’s quarter-final, second-leg clash against South Korean outfit Jeonbuk at Allianz Stadium.

The Sky Blues lead 2-0 after last week’s first leg in Yongin.

Guiding Sydney to a semi-final berth of the continental competition is Grant’s immediate priority.

However, with five Socceroos centre-back options – Harry Souttar, Alessandro Circati, Hayden Matthews, Thomas Deng and Gianni Stensness – all injured, Grant’s focus later this month could switch to Australia’s games against Indonesia (Thursday week, Sydney) and China (March 25, Hangzhou) if named in the squad being announced on Friday by national team coach Tony Popovic.

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Perhaps working in favour is that Grant played under Popovic, as well as Socceroos assistant coach Hayden Foxe, at Perth.

“I’ve always said that I’d love to be part of a Socceroos squad, and try to cement a spot there if I ever got an opportunity, but I just take each day as it comes at the moment and I’m grateful to be back playing,” Grant said.

“If it happens, it happens. It would be a great opportunity for anyone if they got the chance to wear the Socceroos jersey.

“(Popovic) has brought a lot of boys into the mix. They’re looking at every game with a different approach, and they’re shaking up the squads to suit that specific games by the looks of things.

“I had a couple of good seasons with ‘Poppa’ and really enjoyed working under him at Glory, and with Hayden Foxe as well.

“I want the them do as well as they can, regardless of whether I’m there or not.”

Grant wants similar success for Sydney and is confident the Sky Blues can again get the better of Jeonbuk on Thursday.

“They’ve going to have to come all out and we’ll be ready for that. They’re going to have take risks because they have to score, so there definitely could be a few opportunities to counteract that and really get on top of them again,” he said.

“We want to play a tempo and a style of football that suits us, and we’re just going to continue with that philosophy.”

Originally published as Sydney FC centre-back Alex Grant in reckoning for a call-up to Socceroos squad