Adelaide: Brisbane Roar midfielder Matt McKay has been called into the Australia squad for the two 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint qualifiers against Tajikistan and Jordan after Terry Antonis picked up a back injury in Greece over the weekend.
Antonis injured his back in the last training session of the week and did not play for his club side PAOK with Australia head coach Ange Postecoglou ruling out the Greece-based midfielder on the advice of medical staff this morning.
McKay, who was on the stand-by list for the match, will fly to Adelaide this afternoon ahead of Thursday night’s clash with Tajikistan at Adelaide Oval and stay with the squad when they travel to Sydney to play Jordan at Allianz Stadium on Tuesday 29 March.
“Terry Antonis picked up a minor back injury in training that kept him out of his club game on the weekend so it’s best he stays in Greece to get the injury right,” Postecoglou said in a media release. “It’s a shame for Terry as he has been playing well but the door opens for Matt McKay and he will come in and perform to the same high level we are accustomed from Matt.
“We have two important World Cup Qualifiers in Adelaide on Thursday and Sydney next Tuesday and we don’t lose anything by having Matt come into the team for Terry.”
Thirteen members of the Socceroos squad have already arrived in Adelaide and will train for the first time this afternoon at Adelaide Oval.
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com