UPDATE: SOCCEROOS captain Mile Jedinak is in doubt for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier with the UAE, though coach Ange Postecoglou still believes Jedinak will be fit to play in Abu Dhabi.

Jedinak missed training on Sunday after taking a kick in last week’s 1-0 win over Iraq, remaining at the team hotel with one of the squad’s physios.

It’s understood that a final decision will be made on his fitness on Monday, with Jedinak due to appear at the pre-match press conference.

Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak is in doubt for the match against UAE. Picture: Tim Hunter Source: News Corp Australia

“We’ll give him every chance to recover and see if he’s available on game day,” said Postecoglou. “Sometimes things happen on game day which have forced us to change the line-up late on in the past and no-one’s even known. We’re hopeful he’ll be fit.”

Jedinak’s absence would be a significant loss to the team given his extensive experience of playing for Australia in the sort of conditions expected to be faced on Tuesday night, with temperatures expected to be between 35C-40C at kick off.

Mark Milligan would be expected to deputise, opening the way for a recall for Matthew Spiranovic in Milligan’s place in defence.

Australian Socceroo defensive midfielder Mile Jedinak in action against Iraq. Source: AAP

Otherwise Postecoglou was insistent that his players had recovered well from the game against Iraq and subsequent flight to the UAE.

“We’ve had a really good recovery,” Postecoglou said. “It worked out well spending the day in Perth to get over the game and any sort of fatigue.

“Flying overnight worked well for us as we found last year, the boys slept on the plane. Every report we got from [the] medical, sports science people is they’re all feeling good.”