Postecoglou’s selection policy to be tested with Jedinak's demotion

Throughout Ange Postecoglou’s tenure as manager of the Socceroos, the message has been clear: no club game time, no call-up.

It was this policy which saw most of the old guard shifted out of the national set-up and into the wilderness, providing the Socceroos with a necessary tactical and personnel transformation.

Now, however, Postecoglou’s steadfast approach to game time will be severely tested in regards to his captain, Mile Jedinak.

The 31-year-old has found himself ousted from the Crystal Palace starting XI, a change which was predictable once Alan Pardew secured the signature of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Yohan Cabaye.

Cabaye excelled under Pardew during a spell at Newcastle United where he played a deep-lying playmaker role and there was never any doubt that he would be an automatic starter. Similarly, James McArthur is an undroppable force in midfield after a stellar debut season.

It appears the only way for Jedinak to force his way into the starting XI is if Pardew opts for a three-man central midfield throughout the season. Indeed, in a friendly against Union Berlin last month, Jedinak started the game in a midfield trio alongside Jordon Mutch and McArthur.

Cabaye entered the fray at half-time along with a whole new XI, and the French playmaker immediately looked a class above every player on the field.

In the remaining preseason, however, Pardew, who has been active in rotating his squad to find a winning formula, failed to give his captain and new star midfielder a chance to gel. Cabaye and Jedinak only played 45 minutes together in the subsequent five games. Not a promising sign.

In Palace’s opening fixture of the English Premier League against Norwich City, Pardew did plump for a three-man midfield. However, Mutch was given the nod over the skipper, his attacking tendencies allowing Cabaye to occupy his favoured deeper role.

When Pardew changed back to a 4-2-3-1 for Arsenal’s visit on the weekend, McArthur and Cabaye were inevitably chosen as the twin central holders. Cabaye has already opened his account at Palace, McArthur has notched two assists. The signs continue to look bad.

Jedinak’s role for Pardew now appears to be that of a super sub. Not a creative force brought on to win a losing game but a defensive lynchpin who can expertly close down games. As the club captain and former player of the season, Jedinak still has a huge part to play in Palace’s quest for European qualification.

Yet is not exactly ideal for Postecoglou and the Socceroos.

Even last season it looked as though Pardew was heading in a new direction without Jedinak. Despite labelling his skipper a “legend” he bizarrely explained his demotion of Jedinak to the bench against Chelsea as a necessity to gauge the skills of other players.

Jedinak’s replacement against the Blues, Joe Ledley, had started five consecutive games under Pardew while Jedinak was away winning the Asian Cup, and continued his involvement when Jedinak received a four-game ban for a vicious elbow. Hardly an unknown quantity. Pardew’s explanation looks more and more like a deflection.

Based on the past six months, Jedinak’s place on the bench does not look like changing anytime soon under Pardew, who requires his holding midfielders to be equally adept in attack and defence.

What does it mean for Postecoglou and the Socceroos? Well, it is a bit hard to start your captain when he is not wracking up significant game time. The Socceroos need their leader and captain playing regularly.

Postecoglou has said that minutes are important many times before, however he does have form straying from his word. Jason Davidson has continually been selected at left back despite failing to see club minutes, though that has been more down to a lack of alternatives.

In the Socceroos camp, Postecoglou has a growing number of options in midfield that could provide the Socceroos with a more vibrant, fluid and transitional attack.

The most obvious option over the next few years for the deep-lying role is Mustafa Amini, yet he still needs to impress for a full season with Randers FC to fulfil his national team ambitions. Tommy Rogic could be set for a return to the Socceroos fold, with his inclusion pushing Massimo Luongo to a deeper role, but he needs to continue to prove his fitness first.

Aaron Mooy, Oliver Bozanic and Matt McKay could take over from Jedinak alongside Mark Milligan, yet do they possess enough in attack to warrant sacrificing Jedinak’s defensive steel?

Jedinak, as a holder, is still defensively superior to any other midfielder at Postecoglou’s disposal. And he undoubtedly holds exceptional leadership skills.

He could indeed remain in Postecoglou’s starting XI even if he does not crack Pardew’s team. Yet if his continued role on the bench at Palace does force Postecoglou’s hand, what does it mean for the Socceroos captaincy?

Upon his appointment in late 2013, Postecoglou responded to questions about his captain choice and Lucas Neill’s future with: “I don’t know my starting XI so I don’t know who my captain will be.

“I’ve never put a massive focus on who the captain is – I think we will have four or five guys who’ve been club captains and have leadership qualities… It’s more about creating a really strong team environment and culture.”

If Postecoglou determines that his captain must be in the starting line-up, usually a prerequisite, then the Socceroos may find themselves with a new leader in the coming months. If he prefers to stick by his latter statement, perhaps is does not matter whether Jedinak sits on the bench or starts.

It is possible Jedinak can remain Socceroos captain and not be an automatic starter, but is it ideal?

At the moment, Jedinak’s bench role at Crystal Palace is a worry for the Socceroos and will provide Postecoglou with a difficult decision. The manager’s starting line-up in the upcoming games against Bangladesh and Tajikistan early next month will be a closely watched announcement.