It’s no secret that when Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak retired they left a goalscoring void in the Socceroos squad.
Before Graham Arnold took over as head coach after last year’s World Cup the veteran duo had contributed 42 per cent of the goals (38 of 90) Australia had scored in the previous four years.
Arnold’s squad for this month’s Asian Cup didn’t have a single player with 10 or more goals to their name in national team colours.
Step forward Awer Mabil.
The 23-year-old winger has made seven appearances for Australia since debuting in Arnold’s first game in charge against Kuwait last October.
In that time Mabil has scored four goals, including a cracking left-foot curler against Syria in Tuesday’s dramatic 3-2 clash in Al Ain.
His international tally is only bettered by five players in Arnold’s squad – Robbie Kruse (5), Mat Leckie (8), Massimo Luongo (6), Mark Milligan (6) and Tom Rogic (9) – with all of those players having over 40 caps.
It’s a continuation of some fine goalscoring form at club level by Mabil, who has notched five goals in 16 matches this season for Danish Superliga champions FC Midtjylland.
“It’s easy to score goals when the team is behind you,” Mabil said.
“For the front boys, it’s something that’s amazing.
“It’s really clicking for our team and we’ve got a lot to give and to learn.”
Mabil will again be leading Australia’s charge when they face either Japan or Uzbekistan next Monday in Al Ain for a spot in the Asian Cup quarter-finals.
The South Sudanese refugee says he has no fear who the Socceroos meet – even if it is four-time Asian champions Japan.
“We’re all clicking up in the front and we’re all having fun,” Mabil says.
“It’s exciting for Australian fans … I’m really loving being in this environment.”
paul
Guest
Happens in all sports. Geez one of our tennis players wins some insignificant tour tournament and they're the next Cash/Goolagong.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Yes. Kamau still looks like a baby foal. Or maybe a baby giraffe taking it's first steps!
EJ
Roar Pro
Mabil has been great since coming into the squad in late 2018, exciting and not afraid to take players on, great to see a former United player shining for Australia, hopefully he, Ikonomidis and add Nabbout and Leckie as soon as they return from injury, can add plenty of goals in the knockout stage
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Nothing like creating pressure on players as soon as they start performing above the ordinary. We seem to have a natural talent fordoing this irrespective of the sport. Keep the labels for museum pieces and plants in the botanic gardens.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Daniel Arzani, Denis Genreau and Ramy Najjarine have all been developed by Melbourne City and are all players to keep an eye on. Then you have John Iredale, Moudi Najjar and John Roberts from Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers all coming through. Alexander Robertson at Manchester City Youth (formerly Man United) could be another to watch. Add those to McGree, Ikonomidis, Boyle and Mabil and you've got plenty to choose from in the future. We should have a decent squad at the next World Cup. But I'd leave Mabil on the wing. - FOX SPORTS ARTICLE Alex Robertson was described by website City Watch as “considered to have been Manchester United’s best under-14 player last season ... it looks like Manchester United’s loss is Manchester City’s gain”. The midfielder couldn’t have made a better start at his new home, either, with four goals and an assist as City Under-15 beat Rotherham 7-0 in the Floodlit Cup last week in his club debut. Robertson has also scored goals in hit outs against Swansea and Sparta Prague. At 14, he is the youngest in City’s under-15s and has tasted under-16s action too. He’s already the team’s second top goalscorer this season so far. Further: City swooped because United had not yet pinned the Australian down to a contract despite the impressions he made last term. Foxsports.com.au understands that the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool were also interested, but it was Manchester United’s great rivals that seized the initiative. - https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/manchester-city-sign-australian-teenager-alex-robertson-from-manchester-united/news-story/92dfca4ec9f99e2125c65b9ce33924a7?
TheVolley
Guest
Mabil and Ikonomidis have been revelations and credit to Arnold for putting his faith in these 2 players. These guys seem to flourish because of Arnie's new style of inter-changing front 3 (which he draws from the Liverpool's game). I doubt that both players would have done this well under Ange's style of play. There seems to be a lot more freedom in the front third which then also has a flow on effort of freeing up space for Rogic. Considering that we still have Boyle and Arzani to add to the squad, we have pretty good depth here. I am not convinced about Mclaren at this point in time. He seems too one-dimensional in his play and lacks presence, or ability to hold the ball. Perhaps Leckie may fit the bill in the center once he is fit. I also liked what Giannou did when he came on against Syria. All in all, lots of depth for the next campaign in the forward line.
Nemesis
Guest
Why do we always want to put labels on Aussie athletes? All I want from Awer Mabil is for him to give 100% every time he plays for Australia. If he does this & he scores. Fantastic If he does this & he assists. Fantastic If he does this, but fails to have any major impact on the game. Not a problem. Awer's goal was excellent. But, his defending a few minutes later was very poor & allowed Syria to equalise. He switched off. Some of Awer's decisions were poor around the box. So, lots to improve. But, doesn't mean I didn't celebrate wildly when the ball hit the net.
Onside
Guest
By default, the article identifies entrenched goal scoring problems, " when Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak retired they left a goal scoring void ", because neither player was a striker.
striker
Guest
All credit to Arnie for bringing in some young exciting players, He Mabil has a nose for the goal which we baddly need since the departure of Cahill.
Fadida
Guest
He's a winger going through a purple patch of scoring. He's not the answer. Thankfully he's replaced Kruse though, which has increased our chances of scoring. His story is incredible, and he seems like a stellar young man. At AU he looked like a baby foal, a mess of uncoordinated limbs. Fast forward 3 years and he looks a key player for his country. The difference? Hard work and a desperate desire to succeed, with his upbringing the motivating force I'd guess.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Mabil is an exciting player Along with Ikonomidis and arzani, the Roos have some talent for the future