Caltex Socceroos head coach Ange Postecoglou says Melbourne Victory defender Jason Geria is still in the frame for the national team despite missing out on selection in the latest squad.
Postecoglou announced a 23-man squad on Wednesday for Australia’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Iraq and United Arab Emirates in September.
Only one player currently playing for an Hyundai A-League club (Melbourne City’s Tim Cahill) was included in the squad.
Postecoglou said a lack of match fitness in Hyundai A-League players, who are in pre-season mode, was a major factor in the make-up of the squad.
Geria, who made his debut for Australia in an international friendly against Greece in June, has been a member of the past two Caltex Socceroos camps.
“Obviously Josh Risdon and Jason Geria are still very much in the frame,” Postecoglou said.
“With them being in pre-season it was logical to overlook them, but I’ve been happy with their progress so far when they have been in camp.”
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Socceroos squad: Adam Federici (Bournemouth), Mat Ryan (Valencia), Mitch Langerak (Stuttgart), Milos Degenek (1860 Munich), Alex Gersbach (Rosenborg), Ryan McGowan (Henan Jianye), Trent Sainsbury (Jiangsu Suning), Brad Smith (Bournemouth), Matthew Spiranovic (Huangzhou Greentown), Bailey Wright (Preston North End), Chris Ikonomidis (Lazio), Jackson Irvine (Burton Albion), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers), Mark Milligan (Baniyas), Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield), Tommy Rogic (Celtic), Nathan Burns (FC Tokyo), Tim Cahill (Melbourne City), Apostolos Giannou (Guangzhou R&F), Tomi Juric (FC Luzern), Robbie Kruse (Bayer Leverkusen), Mathew Leckie (FC Ingolstadt)
