Socceroos star Riley McGree has been ruled out of the FIFA World Cup, while veteran striker Mitch Duke’s international career is over after he was among a host of players released from Australia’s pre-tournament training camp.
Attacking midfielder McGree injured his hamstring in his English Championship club Middlesbrough’s 1-0 weekend playoff loss to Hull.
The injury has reportedly ended his World Cup selection hopes in a significant blow to the Socceroos’ upcoming tournament campaign.
McGree’s name was not among the eight players added to the training camp squad ahead of Australia’s friendly against Mexico on Sunday (AEST) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Los Angeles.
The players coming into camp in Florida are captain and goalkeeper Mat Ryan, defenders Alessandro Circati, Lucas Herrington, Kai Trewin and Kye Rowles, midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler, winger Awer Mabil and uncapped striker Tete Yengi.
However, for 35-year-old forward Duke, who has scored 13 goals in 50 appearances for the Socceroos, his hopes of an international swansong on the World Cup stage are over.
“50 and out. Wasn’t meant to be,” Duke wrote in a social media post.
The Macarthur FC attacker is among eight players who have been released from the camp, with the others being his Bulls teammate Anthony Caceres, Alex Robertson, Daniel Bennie, Raphael Borges Rodrigues, Dylan Leonard, Gianni Stensness and Ante Suto.
Midfielder Cameron Devlin, who entered the camp last week after finishing his season with Scottish club Hearts said he was “heartbroken” for the players released.
“I’m sure every day of this season we’ve just had, they were thinking of this at the end of the season, and hopefully being in a position to be available for the World Cup,” Devlin said.
“For the ones that have unfortunately left, I’m heartbroken for them … because none of them would want that.
“The level of training has been so high. Every player has put their hand up the best they can. Everyone’s working as hard as they possibly can.
“There are so many good players that are here (and) that are not here Just be here and be one of the lucky ones selected to just come into camp is an honour.
“I can speak on behalf of all the boys, we all feel the same way in that sense. It’s a privilege to be here.
“Every day’s training, you’ve got to treat it like your last.”
The Socceroos’ final 26-man squad for the World Cup – which starts next month in the US, Canada and Mexico – will be announced after this weekend’s friendly.
There are 29 players in the training camp squad.
Socceroos training camp squad: Patrick Beach, Aziz Behich, Brandon Borrello, Jordan Bos, Martin Boyle, Cameron Burgess, Milos Degenek, Cameron Devlin, Joe Gauci, Jason Geria, Ajdin Hrustic, Nestory Irankunda, Jackson Irvine, Jacob Italiano, Paul Izzo, Mathew Leckie, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O’Neill, Harry Souttar, Mohamed Toure, Nishan Velupillay, Mat Ryan, Alessandro Circati, Lucas Herrington, Kai Trewin, Kye Rowles, Paul Okon-Engstler, Awer Mabil, Tete Yengi.
