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Teenage Socceroo Tommy Oar may get the chance to force his way onto the World Cup plane, with a role looming in Australia’s friendly against New Zealand at the MCG on Monday night.
Those clamouring for the jet-like 18-year-old to be elevated into the World Cup squad would have had their hopes buoyed with his efforts during a spirited practice match at the Socceroos’ Melbourne training camp on Saturday.
He spent an extended part of the match playing in what appeared close to Verbeek’s best available 11 – though injury concerns forced Harry Kewell, Josh Kennedy, Mark Schwarzer and Tim Cahill to sit out the game.
And the flashes of fullback-beating brilliance he unleashed in his international debut against Indonesia in Brisbane in March were on display.
While Oar could well be overlooked for the final 23 for South Africa given his lack of seasoning, Verbeek looks keen to see whether the youngster can cope with big-match pressure against the All Whites.
The youngster has also got a tick from Australia’s 2006 bolter Luke Wilkshire, who believes there is an opportunity for players like Oar to make a World Cup mark like he did four years before.
“There’s an opportunity for the young boys that are pushing now, showing good form and a lot of confidence,” said Wilkshire.
“They’ve got to work hard, wait for their opportunity and the World Cup is the biggest stage of all and for people to make their name.
“There’s a few of them – (striker Nikita) Rukavytsya, Tommy Oar’s bolted from nowhere over the last six to eight months.
“It’s up to them to show they’re worthy of their place in the squad and obviously the boss will have the final call on that.”
Verbeek is set to rest Scott Chipperfield from the New Zealand match.
His left-sided defensive understudy David Carney was given an extended run with the first-choice side during Saturday’s practice game.
Chipperfield, 34, has come off an exhaustive series of 16 matches in a 10-week period as his Swiss club FC Basel secured the domestic league-cup double.
Kewell, who did not train at all because of his groin problem, and Schwarzer – restricted to light running after a minor thumb injury – won’t play against the All Whites.
Uncapped goalkeeper Adam Federici, who plays for English championship side Reading, looms as Schwarzer’s likely replacement.
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