Jamie Maclaren’s goalscoring exploits in Scotland for Hibernian have not been enough to convince Bert van Marwijk to include the striker in his first Socceroos squad.
Van Marwijk finalised his squad for his first two fixtures in charge of the Australian men’s national team, a pair of friendlies against Norway and Colombia, settling on a group of 26 players for the matches later this month.
The Dutchman had originally named a preliminary squad of 29 and opted to cut just three players: Maclaren, backup goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak and left-back Alex Gersbach.
First-choice number one Mat Ryan, veteran Brad Jones and the uncapped Danny Vukovic were the glovemen preferred to Langerak, while Millwall’s James Meredith and Norway-based Aleksandar Susnjar favoured over Gersbach in defence.
Maclaren, who scored for Hibernian in their derby-day victory over Hearts on the weekend and has scored twice in six appearances for the Scottish club, was overlooked for an attacker’s spot, with the likes of Tim Cahill, Nikita Rukavytsya, Andrew Nabbout and Dimitri Petratos making the squad in his stead.
Newcastle attacker Petratos is one of four A-League-based players included in the final squad with Western Sydney’s Josh Risdon, Sydney FC’s Josh Brillante and Melbourne Victory playmaker James Troisi all earning call-ups from van Marwijk.
The Dutch coach, who will be replaced by Graham Arnold after the upcoming World Cup, said the two friendlies will be valuable preparation for Russia 2018.
“I am looking forward to the chance to get together with the players and work with them for the first time and to get to know them,” said van Marwijk.
“We must ensure that we get the maximum possible out of the next two weeks in camp, because our time is limited.
“Our friendly matches against Norway and Colombia will be important, but the focus, commitment and application of all the players, coaches and staff from day one until the moment we leave London will be crucial.
“We need to ensure that we use the time that we have together wisely so that we advance our preparations for Russia.”
The Socceroos squad will meet up in Oslo next Monday before taking on Norway at the Ullevaal Stadion on Friday, March 23. The friendly against Colombia will be played the following Tuesday, March 27, at Craven Cottage.
Socceroos squad to play Norway and Colombia
Aziz Behich
Joshua Brillante
Tim Cahill
Milos Degenek
Jackson Irvine
Mile Jedinak
Brad Jones (GK)
Tomi Juric
Matthew Jurman
Robbie Kruse
Mathew Leckie
Massimo Luongo
James Meredith
Mark Milligan
Aaron Mooy
Andrew Nabbout
Dimitri Petratos
Josh Risdon
Tom Rogic
Nikita Rukavytsya
Mathew Ryan (GK)
Trent Sainsbury
Aleksandar Susnjar
James Troisi
Daniel Vukovic (GK)
Bailey Wright
Kaks
Roar Guru
Rojas's absence has highlighted Troisi's inadequacies
LuckyEddie
Guest
Jedinak the most ordinary player at the WC.
Barry Pearce
Guest
Susnjar plays in the Czech Republic.
Kangajets
Guest
Jedinak at Aston Villa. Who are Third place in English championship is better then half the squad . Should they also drop Luongo Meredith Cahill Irvine and Wright , who also play in the championship.
LuckyEddie
Guest
Jedinak is in the English Second Div and that's nothing to write home about.
Nemesis
Guest
So much nonsense. Troisi is not a marquee this season. Milligan & Berisha are the marquee players this season. "People are seeing the real Troisi this year as Victory needed him to step up in Rojas’s absence and he hasn’t done so." What's Rojas got to do with Troisi? They play totally different positions. Troisi probably assisted the majority of Rojas's goals last year. They were on a telepathic understanding. Kosta & Leroy have filled Rojas's void extremely well. Now we have young Theoharous coming through & his interplay with Troisi last night was excellent. For sure, Troisi has been way below his form last season. Rojas has nothing to do with it.
punter
Guest
He scored the winner in the Asian cup final, scored against Germany, showed he had some quality for Melbourne in his first season, but overhyped is a word for Troisi. You understand why he never made the big time O/S despite having talent.
Kaks
Roar Guru
I just think he's always been overhyped. People are seeing the real Troisi this year as Victory needed him to step up in Rojas's absence and he hasn't done so.
Waz
Roar Rookie
He’s “been poor” is being kind, he flipped between awful and average this season - his world tour looking for a new club last winter maybe took it out of him?
punter
Guest
Cannot disagree with you with Troisi, he is Melbourne marquee & has been poor, he has the talent, but not the consistency.
Nemesis
Guest
It's all about the instructions & the roles & responsibilities. I'm really looking forward to our time with BvM at the helm.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Not denying that he had a great game against Heart's, however the 5 games before that? He is being upstaged by a 23 year old swiss who has also come on loan from the start of the year. Needs to consistently play like he did against Hearts.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Agree, a case of too little too late for these games. As you’ll know Maccers thrives off game time and goals, if he can translate his domestic form internationally he’ll be dynamite but he needs careful handling from a good coach, not sure Bert is that sort of coach tbh.
Lionheart
Guest
Borrello with another assist in Bundesliga.2 for FCK on the weekend. Rarely a game these days where he doesn't score or assist a goal. It's hard for us to judge as we don't see those games on TV, but he must surely be bringing some attention on himself from Bundesliga clubs. Love to see him at a bigger club.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Kaks, agree on shaking up the squad. Petratos could give Rogic a run I think in that forward, creative role, and relieve Mooy of taking every free kick over half way. When you consider club combinations, Nabbout and Petratos could provide an edge over a Kruse and Rogic (still thinking Mooy has a role in the 11). Hoping the get decent game time in one of matches.
TheVolley
Guest
Happy to see the new faces in the lineup. Let's see if BVM can help these guys lift their game further.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Really hope both the jets lads get some decent time to prove their case. Nabbout could potentially be the answer out wide as you suggest, and Dimi could stake a claim to being an important squad/impact player. Fingers crossed as both have had good years to date. It would be nice to see some of these fringe guy's push for a spot and really make guy's like Kruse who have been given starts when they dont deserve it a bit of a wake up call.
Lionheart
Guest
agree, but his last game was a ripper and could well have had two goals (second off underside of crossbar) and an assist (bar a shaky effort by other striker), plus some sturdy work in general. I hope he's not dropped off completely because if he turns in a few more like last weekend he'll deserve a spot.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Borello just needs to keep doing what he's doing if it is that great, he may be the bolter for the actual World Cup squad. Kaks makes strong cases. Langerak perhaps unlucky as we are strong in that position and may be a much needed shake up as the second choice keeper incumbent under Ange. I'm not sure Ruka's second coming to the NT is much to write home about. With BvM having seen Nabbout and Petratos personally, either one could well replace him as a striker option. Similarly scenario for Kruse: in particular Nabbout who has all the energy to play that wide attacking role and beat his opponent then deliver quality crosses. And he scores. These two friendlies are the obvious observe and fine tune some fringe players. There isn't much time, which was evident in BvMs 'warning' on not wasting time in camp.
Kangajets
Guest
On Maclaren, I’m guessing van Marvick thinks that Scottish football is no better then A league level , apart from Celtic and Rangers . Hard to disagree tbh