Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou will have to contend with more worrisome news; this time an injury to emerging defender Curtis Good.
The Newcastle United player on loan to Dundee United suffered a hip flexor injury, diagnosed Monday by his parent club, which was sustained during his Socceroos debut against Ecador last week.
The injury will see Good miss at least the next four to six weeks and return roughly around the time the Socceroos begin their World Cup training camp. Good is receiving treatment from the English Premier League side’s medical staff in Newcastle.
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Also unlikely to take part in Brazil are Robbie Kruse (knee reconstruction) and Rhys Williams (Achilles), both just slim chances to return to full health in time for the World Cup.
Postecoglou opted to take a young side to London last week in what was a 4-3 loss for the Socceroos.
The out-of-favour Lucas Neill and Mark Bresciano were left behind for the international friendly and the lack of experience came back to haunt the Socceroos.
Tim Cahill became Australia’s all-time leading goal scorer as Australia established a three-goal halftime lead, however the send-off of goalkeeper Mitch Langerak, a halftime substitute for Mat Ryan, triggered a spectacular collapse.
A 30-man Socceroos squad will train on the Central Coast from May 16-22 before taking on South Africa in a friendly to be played at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on May 26, just days before the squad departs for Brazil.
“Obviously it’s not that easy to find opponents that will travel to Australia at that time of year,” Football Federation Australian boss David Gallop said of the scheduled competition.
“With the World Cup being played in Brazil many teams are already making big travel commitments so this was a team that could make the trip.”
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