Socceroos stars Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer have been ruled out of Australia’s upcoming friendly against Malaysia and World Cup qualifier against Oman.
Everton playmaker Cahill has recently been hampered by ankle and shin complaints, while Schwarzer suffered a back injury in Fulham’s 6-0 win over Queens Park Rangers on Monday morning (AEDT).
“Tim played through the pain barrier on Saturday against Liverpool but the scan showed that the best course of action now is rest and rehab,” Everton Head of Medicine Danny Donachie told Everton’s official club website.
“Tim is disappointed but it is a straight-forward decision because he would not be fit enough to play in the games in Australia.”
The injuries mean the Socceroos will be minus Cahill, Schwarzer, Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell for the friendly in Canberra on Friday night and qualifier in Sydney next Tuesday night.
Coach Holger Osieck surprisingly left prized A-League recruits Kewell and Emerton out of the Socceroos squad that was announced last Tuesday.
With Kewell’s Melbourne Victory taking on Emerton’s Sydney FC in the much-hyped A-League opener this Saturday, Osieck decided on an entirely overseas-based squad of 19 players.
Cahill was included in the original squad despite suffering a shin injury while playing for Everton against Manchester City on September 24.
Adam Federici is the only back-up goalkeeper named in the squad.
Osieck has drafted in Danish-based goalkeeper Nathan Coe to replace Schwarzer.
The Socceroos will have their first light training session on Tuesday afternoon at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.
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