Rising midfielder Chris Herd will almost certainly have to wait a little longer for his Socceroos debut after being felled by an ankle injury.
Named in Socceroos coach Holger Osieck’s 26-man squad for the friendly against Denmark and the World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Japan early next month, the emerging Aston Viilla ace rolled his ankle in the final game of the Premier League season against Norwich.
It’s a blow for Osieck who was waiting with baited breath to have an up close and personal look at the 23-year-old who made 20 appearances for Villa in a breakthrough season under sacked coach Alex McLeish.
And it’s the second time in six months Herd’s hopes of a debut for his country at senior level have been all but dashed after he was ruled out of the November’s World Cup qualifiers against Thailand and Oman, again with an ankle injury sustained playing for his club.
Herd, who broke through for Villa as a right back before his all-action game was harnessed in a deep lying midfield role, is back at his family home in Perth following the injury and all indications are he will not be risked by Osieck.
It’s a letdown for Socceroos fans who were eagerly anticipating seeing how the versatile rookie, who signed an upgraded four-year deal at Villa Park in December, would be utilised by his country.
The former Australian under-20 international, who scored his first Premier league goal in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool last month, must be cursing his luck.
He was rubbed out with injury playing against Norwich in November and it was against the Canaries again last week that he suffered another ankle knock as Villa finished a disappointing season by crashing 2-0.
Wanted by Scotland, the birth place of father Willie, a former professional player himself, Herd pledged his allegiance to Australia last year, insisting: “Australia is where I grew up and learned my football and it’s the country I want to play for.”
It’s understood that if, as expected, Herd pulls out Osieck will not make any further additions to a squad he must trim to 23 for the clash against Denmark (3 June AEST) and the qualifiers against Oman in Muscat (8 June AEST) and Japan in Brisbane (12 June AEST).
Chris Herd out of Socceroos squad
Moderators: Randoman, BillShankly, arxidi, Forum Admins
