He finally hit the scoreboard for the Brisbane Roar last weekend, and a Socceroos call-up has followed for striker Jamie Maclaren.
Australian coach Ange Postecoglou finalised his 23-man squad for their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Thailand on Tuesday, November 15, trimming the side down from the 30 players originally named last week.
The resulting squad has four changes from the one which was named for the pair of draws with Saudi Arabia and Japan last month.
Tim Cahill heads the list of omissions, with Apostolos Giannou, Chris Ikonomidis and Ryan McGowan also missing out.
Joining Mclaren as the new names in the squad are Nathan Burns, Josh Risdon and Milos Degenek.
Cahill has been left out of the squad due to the soreness which ruled him out of Melbourne City’s 2-1 win over Adelaide United last Friday night.
Postecoglou said he was hoping to take full advantage of the long lead-up into the match, and so preferred to take 23 players capable of getting through a rigorous preparation for the game in Bangkok.
“Tim has been left out primarily because we have a 10 day lead in, which is very rare, and I want to be able to put the squad through a lot of work,” Postecoglou said.
“He has done a lot of travel for club and country and I have decided it is better he remains in Melbourne where he is being managed well to ensure he is back on the park as soon as possible and ready for us down the track.”
In Cahill’s place up front is Maclaren, the Brisbane Roar striker finally having a goal to his name this A-League season, while Burns offers another attacking option with the absence of Giannou.
“Jamie Maclaren has started the season well in Brisbane and transformed that form into a goal on the weekend so he will come into the squad, as will Burnsy, which gives us options up front,” Postecoglou said.
Both Perth Glory’s Risdon and Germany-based Degenek offer Postecoglou some added depth at right-back, a position which is yet to produce a regular starter for the Socceroos in recent times.
“Josh has been in good early season form in the A-League with Perth while Milos returned from injury last weekend in Germany so they will come back into the squad,” Postecoglou said.
“They give us some good balance at right back.”
With the match against Thailand marking the halfway point of the World Cup qualifying campaign, Postecoglou will be hoping for a win to push Australia closer to sealing their spot in Russia 2018.
After starting their campaign with two wins against Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, the draws against Saudi Arabia and Japan have seen the Socceroos slide to second position on the qualifying table, two points behind the Saudis.
The match against Thailand will kick off at 11pm (AEDT) on Tuesday, November 15, and will be broadcast live by both Fox Sports and the Nine Network.
Socceroos squad for 2018 World Cup qualifier against Thailand
Nathan Burns, Milos Degenek, Adam Federici, Alex Gersbach, Craig Goodwin, Jackson Irvine, Mile Jedinak, James Jeggo, Tomi Juric, Robbie Kruse, Mitchell Langerak, Mathew Leckie, Massimo Luongo, Jamie Maclaren, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Josh Risdon, Tommy Rogic, Mathew Ryan, Trent Sainsbury, Brad Smith, Matthew Spiranovic, Bailey Wright.
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