Wildcard Nikita Rukavytsya is a shock inclusion in the Socceroos preliminary 30-man squad with coach Ange Postecoglou recalling the attacker for Australia’s do-or-die World Cup qualifiers against Syria next month.
The 30-year-old has 13 Socceroos caps to his name, with his last appearance coming in 2013 in a friendly against Canada.
Currently plying his has trade with Israeli club with Maccabi Haifa, Rukavytsya has scored four goals in seven appearances in both league and cup competitions this season.
Captain Mile Jedinak has also been named to make his long-awaited return for the Socceroos in home and away play-off clashes against Syria on October 5 in Malaysia before the return leg in Sydney five days later.
The 30-man preliminary squad, named on Tuesday, includes all of the players who were originally named for the recent clashes against Japan and Thailand - bar defender Matthew Spiranovic, who has been excluded.
The other additions include Aziz Behich, Mark Birighitti, Craig Goodwin and James Jeggo.
“There is a short turnaround from the last matches so we are fully focused on these upcoming fixtures against Syria,” Postecoglou said.
“The players that we have selected for these crucial matches all have the benefit of several club matches under their belts over the past few weeks, and I am confident whichever 23 players we settle on will be able to do the job next month.
“Now that the match venues have been confirmed, we will prepare for our fixtures against Syria just like every other international opposition we faced throughout this campaign."
MORE TO COME...
FULL 30-MAN SQUAD:
Mustafa AMINI
Aziz BEHICH
Mark BIRIGHITTI (GK)
Tim CAHILL
Milos DEGENEK
Alex GERSBACH
Craig GOODWIN
Jackson IRVINE
Mile JEDINAK
James JEGGO
Tomi JURIC
Matthew JURMAN
Robbie KRUSE
Mitchell LANGERAK (GK)
Mathew LECKIE
Massimo LUONGO
Awer MABIL
Jamie MACLAREN
Ryan MCGOWAN
Mark MILLIGAN
Aaron MOOY
Josh RISDON
Tom ROGIC
Nikita RUKAVYTSYA
Mathew RYAN (GK)
Trent SAINSBURY
Brad SMITH
James TROISI
Daniel VUKOVIC (GK)
Bailey WRIGHT
Socceroos 30 Man Squad v Syria
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Re: Socceroos 30 Man Squad v Syria
Sounds like a good aussie boyLucas Leiva wrote:Wildcard Nikita Rukavytsya
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Re: Socceroos 30 Man Squad v Syria
I rated him quite highly when he was breaking through in the HAL, but that was over 7 years ago. Wasn't really given the greatest of opportunities under Verbeek even though he took him to South Africa.
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Re: Socceroos 30 Man Squad v Syria
A bit like Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling and their traditional English Names.God is an Englishman wrote:Sounds like a good aussie boyLucas Leiva wrote:Wildcard Nikita Rukavytsya
It's all in the Delivery!
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Re: Socceroos 30 Man Squad v Syria
I agree in regards to Raheem, shouldn't be playing for England.Brian the Postman wrote:A bit like Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling and their traditional English Names.God is an Englishman wrote:Sounds like a good aussie boyLucas Leiva wrote:Wildcard Nikita Rukavytsya
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Re: Socceroos 30 Man Squad v Syria
God is an Englishman wrote:Sounds like a good aussie boyLucas Leiva wrote:Wildcard Nikita Rukavytsya
Careful Old Boy, they'll be calling you a Racist next.
The older I get the better I was.
FOOTBALL IS LIFE
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FOOTBALL IS LIFE
The Rest Is Just Details