Socceroos veteran striker Tim Cahill has been ruled out of the national side’s friendlies this week against World Cup champions Germany and FYR Macedonia.
The 35-year-old has been playing with Shanghai Greenland Shenhua in the Chinese Super League this year, starting three games and laying on one assist.
Yet Football Federation Australia confirmed that Cahill and his club had decided that he would undergo rehab on a “minor” Achilles injury after completing 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Tianjin Teda on Sunday.
“Cahill has had a minor ongoing issue with his Achilles tendon and following today’s club match for Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC, Socceroos staff decided it was best for Cahill to undergo rehab in China,” an FFA spokesman said.
Cahill will be replaced by Oliver Bozanic, who plays in central midfield for FC Luzern. It is the second forced change manager Ange Postecoglou has had to make, with Bailey Wright replacing Matthew Spiranovic after the Asian Cup regular suffered a hamstring injury.
Question marks have also been raised about Tomi Juric’s fitness, after Western Sydney Wanderers manager Tony Popovic claimed he was not fit to travel to Germany. It is not certain whether the promising forward has made the trip to Europe.
The latest setback raises question marks over who will lead the Socceroos line when they play Die Nationalmannschaft on March 25 in Kaiserslautern.
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