Mark Viduka has until the end of the week to decide his international future after he was left out of an extended squad for Australia’s remaining three World Cup qualifiers.
The 33-year-old striker was not among a 30-man squad named on Wednesday for matches against Qatar (Doha, June 7), Bahrain (Sydney, June 10) and Japan (Melbourne, June 17), from which Australia only need one point to secure World Cup qualification.
But Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek remains hopeful Viduka could still make his long-awaited return after not playing since the 2007 Asian Cup.
Viduka is off-contract following Newcastle’s relegation from the English Premier League and is still weighing up his club and country future, but Verbeek insists it’s not the end of the road just yet.
“I still have one spot open and that’s a spot for him so it’s up to him,” Verbeek told reporters from the Netherlands.
“He is not on the list because I had a deal with him … that he has this week to make up his mind and to decide if he will be part of the Socceroos for the upcoming games.
“For us, he is more than welcome, and if he makes the decision not to play any more then we have to respect his decision.”
Verbeek did not offer a “gut feeling” as to which way Viduka was leaning.
“From the first moment he always showed interest in the Socceroos,” Verbeek said.
“He definitely didn’t say `I’m not interested at all’, he just said `give me time, I want to focus on Newcastle and then I will give you my decision’.
“I’m very happy with the selection so far, but if you can have a player with his quality in your squad then I have to pick him.”
Verbeek named his usual big guns for the upcoming matches and confirmed Tim Cahill would join the training camp in Dubai on Monday following Everton’s FA Cup clash with Chelsea on Sunday morning (AEST).
The Dutchman also made several interesting selections following a recent scouting trip to Europe.
Most notable were the inclusions of promising Middlesbrough defender Rhys Williams and former Queensland Roar midfielder Dario Vidosic, who impressed this season with German side Nuremberg.
Williams, who made 17 appearances on loan this season for Premier League-bound Burnley, recently turned down Wales to commit his future to Australia.
“I saw him play three times and he did very well in his time at Burnley,” Verbeek said of Williams, who will be in contention for a starting berth with Michael Beauchamp and Craig Moore out injured for all three matches and Luke Wilkshire missing for the Qatar game.
“Now he has to show us that he can be part of the Socceroos in the future.”
Former A-League player Nick Carle also earned his first call-up under Verbeek after figuring regularly for Crystal Palace this season.
“I think Nicky deserves to be a part of this bigger selection … if he deserves to be part of the final 18 that’s what he has to show,” Verbeek said.
Out of left field was a recall for defender Adrian Madaschi, who played for the Socceroos nearly five years ago and impressed Verbeek while playing for Portosummaga in Italy’s third tier.
There were also call-ups for Middlesbrough ‘keeper Brad Jones and Asian-based defenders Mark Milligan and Jade North.
Australia squad:
Mark Bresciano, Jacob Burns, Tim Cahill, Nick Carle, David Carney, Scott Chipperfield, Chris Coyne, Jason Culina, Bruce Djite, Richard Garcia, Vince Grella, Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak, Brad Jones, Josh Kennedy, Harry Kewell, Adrian Madaschi, Scott McDonald, Mark Milligan, Lucas Neill, Jade North, Michael Petkovic, Mark Schwarzer, Matthew Spiranovic, Shane Stefanutto, Mile Sterjovski, Carl Valeri, Dario Vidosic, Luke Wilkshire, Rhys Williams.
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