Socceroos handed double blow ahead of crucial World Cup qualifier

A double blow for the Socceroos ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifier against China on Tuesday night with strikers Kusini Yengi and Adam Taggart ruled out of the match due to injury.

The Socceroos landed in Hangzhou on Saturday on a charter flight from Sydney, but Yengi and Taggart didn’t make the trip.

It’s believed Yengi picked up a hamstring injury that, although on the minor end of the scale, would’ve left him unable to play against China. The incident occurred at training.

The 26-year-old was an unused substitute in Australia’s 5-1 win over Indonesia at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.

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It continues a frustrating run on the fitness front for the forward. The Portsmouth striker had only recently returned to action from a three month lay-off due to a knee injury suffered while playing for the Socceroos against Bahrain during the last international window in November.

Yengi made his first start for Pompey since regaining full fitness last weekend, playing 68 minutes against Preston in the Championship before boarding a plane for the long trip to Australia.

His absence shapes as more than a minor inconvenience for Socceroos coach Tony Popovic. Yengi stands on the cusp of becoming Australia’s next first choice striker after scoring six goals in just 12 appearances for the national team.

“We don’t have anyone that has the style of play or the profile that Kusini has,” Popovic said when announcing the squad for the games against Indonesia and China.

“I was in London to watch him a few weeks ago. So, I saw the way he was moving. I can see that he has looked after his body really well.

“For a first game since November. He gives us something a little bit different to what the other attackers do.”

That is a card Popovic can now no longer play.

Taggart started against Indonesia on Thursday night and was substituted at half time. Just before the break he could be seen grabbing at his groin several times. Martin Boyle also didn’t take the field for the second half.

“They both had a bit of a niggle, maybe Adam a little bit more than Martin Boyle,” Popovic said post-game when asked about the fitness of the pair.

While Taggart was unable to make the trip to China, Boyle did.

Mitch Duke has been called in as cover. The striker, who has been a regular squad member since 2019, was a surprise omission for this window. A lack of game time and goals hurt his chances of selection initially.

The 34-year-old is on the books of Machida Zelvia in the J-League and has been limited to just 45-minutes this season.

With Taggart and Yengi unavailable it places extra responsibility on the shoulders of Western Sydney Wanderers frontman Brandon Borrello. He played the entire second half against Indonesia while winger Nishan Velupillay, who scored in Sydney, can also play as a striker. The Melbourne Victory attacker has two goals from three appearances in green and gold.

The Socceroos went into this camp already dealing with a raft of injuries to key players. Goalkeeper Joe Gauci (hip), defenders Hayden Matthews (ankle), Harry Souttar (achilles), and Jordy Bos (hamstring) are all sidelined while Riley McGree (knock) can’t get on the field at Middlesbrough.

Alessandro Circati continues to rehabilitate an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his knee and the 21-year-old Parma defender would’ve been a certain starter if available.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos could’ve been a contender for this camp as well, but for an injury plagued debut campaign in Scotland. The Motherwell forward has scored five goals in 18-games in all competitions but hasn’t featured since December 29 after hurting his calf. Just as the former Newcastle Jet was set to return, Motherwell revealed he’d been sent for surgery on a fractured wrist that could end his season.

Given that, securing six points in this window and maintaining Australia’s grip on second place in group C, would be some feat.

Group leaders Japan became the first non-host to secure a spot at next year’s World Cup after a 2-0 win over Bahrain in Saitama. They’re now guaranteed to finish first or second in group C.

Australia is desperately chasing the other automatic qualification spot that is up for grabs. They’re on 10 points and lead third placed Saudi Arabia by one. Indonesia, Bahrain and China are all on six points.

After facing China, Australia takes on Japan in Perth and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East in June to wrap up round three.