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Coach Ange Postecoglou says adaptability as well as form earned Nathan Burns his recall to the Socceroos for next month’s Asian Cup.
World Cup players Oliver Bozanic and Ben Halloran and Melbourne City midfielder Aaron Mooy were among the most unlucky omissions when Postecoglou unveiled his final 23-man squad on Tuesday.
But there were few arguments about 26-year-old Burns returning to add to his seven international caps after a four-year absence following his feats while scoring 10 goals for Wellington Phoenix to top the A-League chart this season.
The goal-shy Socceroos desperately need another source of goals after proving over-reliant on veteran striker Tim Cahill and he will vie for game time with the likes of Robbie Kruse, Matthew Leckie and Tomi Juric.
Burns is one of seven A-League players chosen – Terry Antonis, Eugene Galekovic, Juric, Matt McKay, Mark Milligan and Matthew Spiranovic are the others.
And Postecoglou, who coached him at under-17 level, said he always knew the striker had enough ability.
“His form has been compelling,” Postecoglou said.
“The way we’re setting up at the moment, there’s opportunity to play in any of the front three positions.
“That’s part of why he was an attractive proposition for us – he fits into the style of football we want to play.
“Looking at the way he plays for Wellington, he won’t have to make major adjustments to fit into what we’re doing.”
Postecoglou said it was no accident the 23-man Asian Cup squad features more forwards than this year’s World Cup squad.
“Going back to the World Cup, it was an area where we were pretty limited,” he said.
The squad features 16 members of the Brazil World Cup squad – with Halloran, Bozanic, Ryan McGowan, Adam Taggart, James Holland, Bailey Wright and Dario Vidosic omitted, though all were picked in the preliminary 46-man squad.
Those added – apart from the A-Leaguers – are Chris Herd, Aziz Behich, Trent Sainsbury and Kruse.
Apart from Burns, the veterans from the last Asian Cup campaign in Qatar 2011 where the Socceroos were runner-up to Japan are captain Mile Jedinak, Cahill, Kruse, Matt McKay, Tommy Oar and Spiranovic.
The squad will go into a Melbourne camp from Saturday ahead of their January 9 Cup opener against Kuwait at AAMI Park.
Jason Davidson, Herd and Kruse made the final cut despite not having played much soccer of late.
“They’re not fitness issues, though,” Postecoglou said.
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