Postecoglou decides to go without Ante Covic despite his Asian Champions League heroics.
Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou has selected his 23-man squad to face Japan in a friendly later this month.
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The clash in Osaka on November 18 will be Australia’s final hit-out before next January’s Asian Cup and Postecoglou will be hoping to notch up a morale-boosting win after disappointing results against Qatar and the UAE.
Postecoglou has named several A-League players in the squad, with Sydney FC youngster Terry Antonis getting a chance to impress after an excellent start to the A-League season.
He will be joined by Mark Milligan, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Matt McKay, Mitch Nichols and Aaron Mooy as players to be selected from the domestic league.
“The Japan match is the final hit out before the Asian Cup and we’ll have a good week of training leading into the game so we can continue to work on what we’ve been trying to achieve before we take on a tough opponent in Japan,” head coach Postecoglou said in a statement.
“The squad we’ve selected has a core group of players we have been working with over the last 12 months but it still gives an opportunity to a few more younger players who have started the season well in the A-League.”
Western Sydney goalkeeper Ante Covic was not selected despite his Asian Champions League heroics, with Postecoglou seeing no reason to drop either Maty Ryan or Mitch Langerak.
SOCCEROOS SQUAD:
Terry Antonis (Sydney FC/AUS), Aziz Behich (Bursaspor/TUR), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa/QAT), Josh Brillante (Fiorentina/ITA), Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls/USA), Jason Davidson (West Bromwich Albion/ENG), Ivan Franjic (Torpedo Moscow/RUS), Chris Herd (Aston Villa/ENG), James Holland (Austria Vienna/AUT), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace/ENG), Robbie Kruse (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Mitch Langerak (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Mathew Leckie (FC Ingolstadt/GER), Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town/ENG), Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar/AUS), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory/AUS), Mitch Nichols (Perth Glory/AUS), Aaron Mooy (Melbourne City/AUS), Mat Ryan (Club Brugge/BEL), Trent Sainsbury (PEC Zwolle/NED), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Western Sydney Wanderers/AUS), James Troisi (SV Zulte Waregem/BEL), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Hyundai/KOR).