Graham Arnold announced his first Caltex Socceroos squad for a training camp in Turkey next month, with a strong Hyundai A-League influence among the 31-player squad.
Western Sydney Wanderers defender Josh Risdon and Newcastle Jets playmaker Dimitri Petratos are the two current Hyundai A-League stars included for the camp, which will be held in Antalya from next week.
HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE DRAW: Click here to find out when to watch Risdon and Petratos
The pair were both part of the Caltex Socceroos squad at the recent FIFA World Cup in Russia and have retained their positions under the new boss.
Risdon played all three matches in Russia and was one of Australia’s most consistent performers and looks to have locked down the right-back position.
Petratos, who starred for the Jets in their surge to last season’s Hyundai A-League Grand Final, got his first taste of the national team prior to the World Cup and has two caps to his name.
As well as Risdon and Petratos, there are 19 other players in the squad that have launched their careers in the Hyundai A-League.
They include new faces Ben Garuccio who was one of Adelaide United’s best players last season before earning a move to Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts in the off-season.
Another former Red in Awer Mabil has also earned a call-up after his strong performances for FC Midtylland in Denmark, while ex-Melbourne City starlet Daniel Arzani – who is now playing at Celtic on loan from Manchester City – is also there.
Japan-based former Central Coast Mariners attacker Mitch Duke, playmaker Mustafa Amini (Mariners) and Alex Gersbach (Sydney FC) have also earned re-calls to the national team set-up after impressive seasons abroad.
Established stars like Mile Jedinak, Aaron Mooy, Robbie Kruse, Mark Milligan, Trent Sainsbury and Mat Ryan – who all started their careers in the Hyundai A-League – will also be involved in the camp which runs from September 3-11.
But injury means the likes of former Mariners star Tom Rogic, ex-Adelaide United flyer Mat Leckie and Andrew Nabbout (Victory and Jets) weren’t considered.
“Next week’s camp in Turkey marks the start of a new phase for the Socceroos,” said Arnold.
“While we will have numerous field, tactical, and video sessions during the seven days that we are together in Turkey, we will also spend plenty of time off the pitch discussing our individual and team objectives and identity.
“The 31 players we have invited to Antalya will be the first to receive an opportunity to work with us, however we have a long list of players that we are monitoring and we will continue to assess them as we seek to add to the depth of the team.”
Full Caltex Socceroos 31-Player Squad
Name |
Club, Country |
A-International Caps (Goals) |
Mustafa AMINI |
Aarhus Gymnastikforening, Denmark |
2 (0) |
Daniel ARZANI |
Glasgow Celtic FC, Scotland |
5 (1) |
Aziz BEHICH |
Bursaspor, Turkey |
26 (2) |
Milos DEGENEK |
Red Star Belgrade, Serbia |
18 (0) |
Kenneth DOUGALL |
Barnsley FC, England |
0 (0) |
Mitchell DUKE |
Shimizu S-Pulse, Japan |
4 (2) |
Ben GARUCCIO |
Heart of Midlothian, Scotland |
0 (0) |
Denis GENREAU |
PEC Zwolle, Netherlands |
0 (0) |
Alex GERSBACH |
Rosenborg BK, Norway |
4 (0) |
Apostolos GIANNOU |
AEK Larnaca, Cyprus |
5 (0) |
Ajdin HRUSTIC |
FC Groningen, Netherlands |
1 (0) |
John IREDALE |
SC Heerenveen, Netherlands |
0 (0) |
Jackson IRVINE |
Hull City AFC, England |
22 (2) |
Mile JEDINAK |
Aston Villa FC, England |
79 (20) |
Brad JONES (Gk) |
Al-Nasr Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
6 (0) |
Tomi JURIC |
FC Luzern, Switzerland |
38 (8) |
Matthew JURMAN |
Al-Ittihad Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
4 (0) |
Robbie KRUSE |
VfL Bochum, Germany |
67 (5) |
Mitchell LANGERAK (Gk) |
Nagoya Grampus, Japan |
8 (0) |
Massimo LUONGO |
Queens Park Rangers FC, England |
36 (5) |
Awer MABIL |
FC Midtylland, Denmark |
0 (0) |
Jamie MACLAREN |
Hibernian FC, Scotland |
6 (0) |
Mark MILLIGAN |
Hibernian FC, Scotland |
71 (6) |
Aaron MOOY |
Huddersfield Town AFC, England |
37 (5) |
Dimi PETRATOS |
Newcastle Jets, Australia |
2 (0) |
Josh RISDON |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
11 (0) |
Mathew RYAN (Gk) |
Brighton & Hove Albion FC, England |
47 (0) |
Trent SAINSBURY |
PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands |
38 (3) |
Aleksandar SUSNJAR |
MŠK Žilina, Slovakia |
1 (0) |
Daniel VUKOVIC (Gk) |
KRC Genk, Belgium |
1 (0) |
Bailey WRIGHT |
Bristol City FC, England |
22 (1) |