Teenager Garang Kuol, who will join Newcastle in January, and former Scotland international Jason Cummings have been named in Australia’s 26-man squad for the World Cup, but experienced defender Trent Sainsbury is a surprise omission.
Kuol, an 18-year-old forward for the Central Coast Mariners, has yet to start a senior match but his pace and eye for goal led to the Premier League club agreeing a deal in September.
He has played once for Australia, against New Zealand two months ago, and Socceroos manager Graham Arnold is hoping the youngster’s energy can be a weapon for his side in Qatar.
“The kid just needs to be himself,” said Arnold. “Garang has showed how he can change a game. He has zero fear and he wants to entertain.”
Arnold has named 17 players who will play in their first World Cup, but there was no spot for centre-back Sainsbury, who has been a mainstay of their defence since the Asian Cup triumph of 2015.
Australia’s World Cup squad in full
Goalkeepers: Mathew Ryan (FC Copenhagen), Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners)
Defenders: Aziz Behich (Dundee United), Milos Degenek (Columbus Crew), Thomas Deng (Aibirex Niigata), Joel King (Odense Boldklub), Nathaniel Atkinson (Hearts), Fran Karacic (Brescia), Harry Souttar (Stoke City), Kye Rowles (Hearts), Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United)
Midfielders: Aaron Mooy (Celtic), Jackson Irvine (St Pauli), Ajdin Hrustic (Hellas Verona), Bailey Wright (Sunderland), Cameron Devlin (Hearts), Riley McGree (Middlesbrough), Keanu Baccus (St Mirren)
Forwards: Awer Mabil (Cadiz), Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), Martin Boyle (Hibernian), James Maclaren (Melbourne City), Jason Cummings (Central Coast Mariners), Mitchell Duke (Fagiano Okayama), Garang Kuol (Central Coast Mariners)