Brisbane Roar striker Jamie Maclaren recalled to Socceroos squad

BRISBANE Roar striker Jamie Maclaren has been recalled to the Socceroos squad for Australia’s World Cup qualifier against Thailand.

Jamie Maclaren celebrates a goal with teammates Thomas Kristensen and Corey Brown. Picture: Darren England

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SOCCEROOS coach Ange Postecoglou has lived up to his word of picking Brisbane Roar striker Jamie Maclaren if he started scoring goals again, but few predicted it would be at the expense of talisman Tim Cahill.

Not named in a preliminary squad of 30 players, Maclaren — who opened his season account in Brisbane’s 2-1 weekend win over Perth Glory — was named in Postecoglou’s final 23 for Australia’s World Cup qualifier against Thailand on November 15 in Bangkok.

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Maclaren’s gain is Cahill’s pain, with Postecoglou leaving out 36-year-old Melbourne City attacker and the Socceroos’ all-time leading goalscorer.

Cahill missed City’s last-start 2-1 win over Adelaide United with an Achilles problem, but is set to play when the star-studded Melbourne outfit take on Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

“He’s not ruled out of anything — I’ve made the decision not to select him for this (Socceroos) squad,” said Postecoglou, who stressed Cahill was a key part of his future plans.

“It’s really important for someone like him (to have) a strong A-League season. We’ve got a big program next year with the back half of qualifying and Confederations Cup.

Jamie Maclaren has started the season strongly for the Brisbane Roar, scoring his first goal of the season against Perth on Sunday. Picture: Darren England

“To bring him on another camp for limited minutes again didn’t make sense. For us, it’s much better that he stays with his club”

“He’s had a fantastic (A-League) impact (so far). I’d like to see more of it, so that’s why we’re making this decision now rather than pushing the envelope with him.”

In contrast, Maclaren is match-condition and back in form. Last week Postecoglou said if the Roar forward “bangs in the goals … he’ll be rewarded for that”.

“He was still on the radar even though he wasn’t in the (preliminary squad of) 30 and with him scoring on the weekend … even the weekend before I thought he played really well, (and) probably could have had a goal in that game as well,” Postecoglou said.

“It just meant we didn’t take any risks with that central striking role.”

Tim Cahill has been rested from the Socceroos World Cup qualifier against Thailand. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Maclaren, who debuted for the Socceroos in May this year against England, said the challenge of scoring goals to earn national selection was nothing new to him.

“I knew that even before last season when I wasn’t even considered for Socceroos. If you score goals you get selected … I’m going to try to knock on the door,” Maclaren said.

“I’ll continue to work hard and be ready to take any opportunity given.”

Maclaren, fellow attacker Nathan Burns, and defenders Josh Risdon and Milos Degenek were added to the squad that last month drew 2-2 with Saudi Arabia and 1-1 with Japan.

Out are Cahill, Apo Giannou, Chris Ikonomidis and Ryan McGowan.

SOCCEROOS SQUAD: Mat Ryan, Mitchell Langerak, Adam Federici, Milos Degenek, Josh Risdon, Alex Gersbach, Trent Sainbsury, Brad Smith, Matthew Spiranovic, Bailey Wright, Mark Milligan, Mile Jedinak, Jackson Irvine, Massimo Luongo, Tom Rogic, Aaron Mooy, Jimmy Jeggo, Craig Goodwin, Robbie Kruse, Mathew Leckie, Nathan Burns, Jamie Maclaren, Tomi Juric.

Originally published as Brisbane Roar striker Jamie Maclaren recalled to Socceroos squad