Socceroos dealt SAVAGE blow with Ajdin Hrustic in doubt for FIFA World Cup through injury

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold’s World Cup selection headache is rapidly becoming a migraine with key player Ajdin Hrustic the latest player to suffer an injury problem at the worst possible time.

With just 33 days until Australia’s opening match in Qatar against the might of the France, Hrustic rolled his ankle playing for Italian Serie A outfit Hellas Verona in their 2-1 loss to Milan on the weekend.

The 26-year-old attacking midfielder was a Europa League winner with Eintracht Frankfurt last season and has been Australia’s main playmaker in qualification in the absence of Tom Rogic.

Ajdin Hrustic of Australia is challenged by Renato Tapia of Peru during their World Cup playoff

Hrustic celebrates with teammate Nathaniel Atkinson after scoring against the 2-1 lead during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Asian Qualifiers playoff between the UAE and Australia

Verona said he will not be considered for selection until after the World Cup, so the best case scenario for Hrustic is he will go into Australia’s Group D opener in Qatar  off five weeks of no games and little training.

It gives Arnold plenty to think about, whether he risks a potentially under-prepared Hrustic in his starting side or look at other options such as Rogic – who is now with English Championship side West Bromwich Albion – or Riley McGree.

While both quality options, neither player is getting big minutes, with McGree playing a limited role for a Middlesbrough side which had slid into the relegation zone in England’s second tier.

Rogic has returned for West Bromwich Albion after leaving Socceroos qualifying for personal reasons in June

Rogic appears to be the logical replacement, but he remains on the outer after leaving Socceroos camp ahead of crucial World Cup qualifying wins over the UAE and Peru for ‘personal reasons’ in June.

He was overlooked for the two recent friendlies versus New Zealand and only has a small window to impress at West Bromwich Albion.

‘He needs games and match fitness to get picked for Qatar,’ Arnold said in August.

While Arnold will have headaches on the offensive end, his stocks in the defensive line have been bolstered by the return of Harry Souttar.

It has been a race against time for the towering defender since rupturing his ACL while playing for Australia late last year. However in a major boost he is set to return for Stoke City in two weeks. 

Coach Graham Arnold has plenty of selection headaches ahead of the November World Cup

‘There’s good news – Harry [Souttar] played 45 minutes [on Monday] for Stoke City’s under 23s team,’ he said on SEN’s The Global Game.

‘He will play 60 minutes on Saturday, I have [assistant] Rene Meulensteen over in the UK and he went and watched him.

‘He hasn’t lost any of his speed and mobility, he looks very good. He’ll play 60 minutes over the weekend.

‘Stoke City have been fantastic with their communication and [they’ve said] they’ll put him back in the first team squad in the week after.’

Souttar (23) celebrates his goal with defender Bailey Wright (20) and midfielder Jackson Irvine (22) during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier soccer match between Australia and Nepal

Additionally, Arnold announced that fellow Socceroos defender Kyle Rowles was back running and would be ready for the World Cup by November.

Rowles was impressive in the Socceroos’ two play-off matches in June, but suffered a foot injury playing for Scottish club Hearts.  

‘He needs to have a scan just to check (on his injury), so once he gets that clearance he’ll be training the week after,’ Arnold said.

‘There’s a few weeks to go so both [Rowles and Souttar] have a chance to get some game time.’