Hayden Matthews, Harry Souttar and Alessandro Circati are currently sidelined heading into this month’s 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifiers, so who is the best and most in-form Subway Socceroos-eligible centre-back in the Isuzu UTE A-League as things stand?
That was the question put forward during this week’s Total A-Leagues episode amid Australia’s injury woes at centre-back with World Cup qualifiers looming against Indonesia (March 20) and China (March 25).
A-Leagues product Matthews will miss the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury that cut short his fine start to life at Portsmouth in the EFL Championship, while regular centre-back Souttar (Sheffield United) and star defender Circati (Parma) are both recovering from serious injuries.
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Socceroos boss Tony Popovic will now look to fill the void as Australia face two important qualifiers, with the Green and Gold second – nine points behind Japan, but only a point clear of Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and China on the road to the 2026 showpiece.
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With the Socceroos down on fit centre-backs, Total A-Leagues host and Sydney Morning Herald reporter Vince Rugari asked who is the standout candidate to be called up from the A-Leagues, where Popovic has blooded Matthews (playing for Sydney FC at the time), Anthony Caceres (Sydney FC), Nishan Velupillay (Melbourne Victory) and Luke Brattan (Macarthur Bulls) on the international stage during his tenure so far.
Retired Socceroo Tommy Oar put forward Adelaide United sensation Panagiotis Kikianis, who helped the Young Socceroos win their maiden AFC Under-20 Asian Cup title in China last week.
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“It has to be Kikianis,” said Oar. “If you look at what he did with the Young Socceroos, obviously was a crucial part of them winning that tournament.
“Before that, with Adelaide he was a big part of the reason they were so successful so far this season.
“Still so young. Even just from that perspective, similar to the way Hayden Matthews got introduced to the Socceroos, I’d love to see him get in there.”
Kikianis has emerged as one of the most talented young defenders in the Isuzu UTE A-League this season, alongside 17-year-old Western United young gun Dylan Leonard.
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After signing a ground-breaking five-year deal with the Reds heading into 2024-25, the teenager is spearheading the latest cohort of Adelaide United products.
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“Completely agree,” said Rugari. “Talking about this pre-show as well, once you draw up the list, it’s not as deep as what it was in the past. That’s fine, because Dylan Leonard, but I’m more of a Kikianis man myself.
“I would not be shocked if Popa picks him in this next squad, and I would be a little bit surprised if he threw him in like he did with Matthews, even though that sort of worked out okay.
“But have him in the squad, use the other guys to start these really important games, but he’s one for the future clearly.
“Runs on the board. Just won a title with the national team U20s. I reckon he’s worth a look.”
