Ange Postecoglou names preliminary 30-player squad for Honduras hurdle

Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Ange Postecoglou has today named a preliminary 30-player squad for next month’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Play-off (CONCACAF-Asian Zone) against Honduras.



22 of the 23 players originally selected for the Caltex Socceroos’ recent success over Syria have been picked in Postecoglou’s provisional squad for the forthcoming tie against the Central American nation.



During the Syria series England-based defender Bailey Wright and Belgium-based goalkeeper Danny Vukovic were forced to withdraw from the Caltex Socceroos’ squad due to minor injuries, however both have since returned to action for their clubs and could now be part of Australia’s final two fixtures on the road to Russia.



Mile Jedinak, Alex Gersbach, Ajdin Hrustic, James Jeggo, Awer Mabil, and Jamie Maclaren are also among Postecoglou’s extended list of options for the Caltex Socceroos crunch clashes with Honduras in San Pedro Sula (November 10) and Sydney (November 15).

Skipper Mile Jedinak has been named to return for the Caltex Socceroos.

While there is still a week of club football to be played before he finalises his 23-player squad for the play-off matches against Honduras, Postecoglou is confident that the group ultimately selected will be prepared to propel Australia to its fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance.



“There are a couple of weeks before the group gets together so we will be monitoring the health and fitness of every player to make sure that the final twenty-three are available for what is going to be a challenging couple of games,” said Postecoglou.



“We feel that we are right on schedule with regards to our arrangements, logistics and intelligence for Honduras, and are comfortable that the work completed and decisions made so far will help us in our quest to qualify for Russia.



“A large, vocal home crowd in Sydney for the second leg is something that everyone involved with the squad is looking forward to,” concluded Postecoglou.



To purchase tickets to the home leg at Stadium Australia in Sydney please visit www.socceroos.com.au/tickets.

Postecoglou will confirm his final 23-player squad for the Caltex Socceroos’ play-off matches against Honduras next week.



The Caltex Socceroos will begin to assemble in San Pedro Sula, Honduras from Sunday 5 November 2017.

Caltex Socceroos 30-player preliminary squad for the following matches:



2018 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Play-off (CONCACAF-Asian Zone) v Honduras (San Pedro Sula, Honduras – Friday 10 November 2017 and Sydney, Australia – Wednesday 15 November 2017)

Name Club, Country A-International Caps (Goals) Mustafa AMINI Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF), DENMARK 2 (0) Aziz BEHICH Bursaspor, TURKEY 17 (2) Mark BIRIGHITTI (GK) NAC Breda, NETHERLANDS 1 (0) Tim CAHILL Melbourne City FC, AUSTRALIA 103 (50) Milos DEGENEK Yokohama F. Marinos, JAPAN 14 (0) Alex GERSBACH Rosenborg BK, NORWAY 4 (0) Craig GOODWIN Sparta Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS 3 (0) Ajdin HRUSTIC FC Groningen, NETHERLANDS 1 (0) Jackson IRVINE Hull City AFC, ENGLAND 14 (1) Mile JEDINAK Aston Villa FC, ENGLAND 71 (15) James JEGGO SK Sturm Graz, AUSTRIA 0 (0) Tomi JURIC FC Luzern, SWITZERLAND 30 (8) Matthew JURMAN Suwon Samsung Bluewings, KOREA REPUBLIC 2 (0) Robbie KRUSE VfL Bochum, GERMANY 59 (5) Mitchell LANGERAK (GK) Levante UD, SPAIN 8 (0) Mathew LECKIE Hertha BSC, GERMANY 48 (6) Massimo LUONGO Queens Park Rangers FC, ENGLAND 31 (5) Awer MABIL FC Pacos de Ferreira, PORTUGAL 0 (0) Jamie MACLAREN SV Darmstadt 98, GERMANY 5 (0) Ryan MCGOWAN Al-Sharjah SCC, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 20 (0) Mark MILLIGAN Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA 63 (6) Aaron MOOY Huddersfield Town AFC, ENGLAND 28 (5) Josh RISDON Western Sydney Wanderers FC, AUSTRALIA 4 (0) Tom ROGIC Celtic FC, SCOTLAND 31 (7) Nikita RUKAVYTSYA Maccabi Haifa FC, ISRAEL 15 (1) Mathew RYAN (GK) Brighton & Hove Albion FC, ENGLAND 39 (0) Trent SAINSBURY Jiangsu Suning FC, CHINA 31 (3) James TROISI Melbourne Victory, AUSTRALIA 35 (5) Daniel VUKOVIC (GK) KRC Genk, BELGIUM 0 (0) Bailey WRIGHT Bristol City FC, ENGLAND 19 (1)

Match Details:

2018 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Play-off (CONCACAF-Asian Zone) 1st leg

Honduras v Caltex Socceroos

Friday 10 November 2017

Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Kick-off: 4pm (local); 9am (AEDT – Saturday 11 November 2017)



2018 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Play-off (CONCACAF-Asian Zone) 2nd leg

Caltex Socceroos v Honduras

Wednesday 15 November 2017

Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia

Kick-off: 8pm (AEDT)



Both matches will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS and the Nine Network.

Ticket Details

For more information regarding ticketing please visit www.socceroos.com.au/tickets