McDonald to lead Socceroos attack

[Red-4-Life]

Pint-sized predator Scott McDonald has been handed the Socceroos' number nine shirt for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup after towering striker Josh Kennedy was officially rubbed out of Australia’s squad on Monday for the January showpiece in Qatar.

It’s a resounding show of support for the former Celtic hitman – still goalless in 20 games for his country - from coach Holger Osieck who views the Middlesbrough forward as far more than a one-dimensional goal poacher.

McDonald has started three of the German’s four games since taking over the helm from Pim Verbeek and could be in for a busy January with several clubs circling him back in England where a New Year move away from the club he joined just under 12 months ago is on the cards.

Though McDonald was always going to be in his 23-man squad – due to be officially unveiled on Tuesday – awarding him the coveted No 9 jumper after Kennedy succumbed to a back injury was the ultimate compliment for McDonald, who has scored three goals in his last six games for Championship strugglers Boro.

McDonald, 27, is likely to be used in tandem with Tim Cahill or Harry Kewell in Qatar, with Australia opening its programme against India on January 10.

Australia’s striking stocks have been depleted by the absence of Dario Vidosic, who is in the midst of switching clubs in Germany, and Sydney’s Alex Brosque, who has a groin injury.

But Osieck isn’t placing undue pressure on McDonald to instantly find his radar in front of goal for his country.

He has said of McDonald, who has six goals in 20 starts for Boro this season: "Of course we all know Scott has yet to score for us but he is very important to the structure of the team and the way we want to play.

"I want him to work for the team and help create space for players like Tim Cahill and Brett Holman.

"It serves no purpose to keep focusing on his scoring, to me he is much more than a penalty area player. He is important to our structure. He does a lot of good work in deeper positions and he makes openings for others also.

"From my experience in football, hard work always gets rewarded in some way and the goals will come to him. I have every confidence in Scott in the long term.

"First and foremost his job in the front line is to keep defences busy and bring others into the game. I don’t want to add to pressure for him to score."

Kennedy, who finished joint top scorer in the J.League, has been receiving intensive treatment from Socceroos physio Phil Coles and his team since returning from clinching the title with Nagoya Grampus.

He has an injury which could need long-term management and was considered too big a risk to be deployed in Qatar.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/103 ... oos-attack

[seanason]

[Red-4-Life]

My thoughts exactly!

[DOC]

look at the options due to injuries, his hand has been forced

looking at the 23 man squad, we have no big striker so by the looks of it we will be playing the ball on the deck, which is good

remember over half of mcdonalds caps have come in late sub appearances, while others came in verbeeks system of 1 striker which is not what he was suited to and struggled, i reckon with the confidence of the coach he can come good for aus

[We Done Ya]

look at the options due to injuries, his hand has been forced

looking at the 23 man squad, we have no big striker so by the looks of it we will be playing the ball on the deck, which is good

remember over half of mcdonalds caps have come in late sub appearances, while others came in verbeeks system of 1 striker which is not what he was suited to and struggled, i reckon with the confidence of the coach he can come good for aus

Yeh you are absolutely right. He should have scored in one of the friendlies a few months back. I think it was slovenia, he had a couple of sitters that he missed. Shows he is playing well but lacking confidence in the Nat set up. He'll be right though, start him with Burns or Kewell against India and get the monkey off his back.

On a side note, his value to the team is very high when he is on the ball. Creates alot for Holman and Cahill. He is very mobile ans skillful.

[guti]

If he can't score against India, then we've persisted long enough!!!!!