Fitness worries linger over Socceroos duo

November 20, 2022 01:16 AM AEDT | By AAPNEWS
Image source: AAPNEWS

Defender Harry Souttar is adamant he can be removed from Socceroos coach Graham Arnold's worrisome World Cup injury list.

But concerns remain over a key duo ahead of Australia's cup opener against reigning champions France on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT).

Playmaker Ajdin Hrustic (ankle) and winger Martin Boyle (knee) are still battling their respective ailments.

Both have yet to feature in main training when sessions have been open to observers for a brief 15-minute window since they arrived in Qatar.

Boyle and Hrustic have been continuing their rehabilitation away from the main group but Souttar says he's fully recovered from a knee reconstruction. 

That followed anterior cruciate ligament damage he suffered in a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia in Sydney last November.

The imposing defender spent a year on the sidelines and played just one full senior game for his English championship side Stoke City before landing in Qatar.

"Obviously it was a long 12 months trying to get back fit ... but I feel great," Souttar told reporters.

"I knew it was a bad injury and it was going to mean a long-term one ... the first thought I had was 'right, how do you get fit for the World Cup'."

Souttar's possible partner in central defence, Kye Rowles, has also declared himself ready after suffering a broken foot in late August.

And Souttar was bullish about Boyle's prospects of overcoming a knee injury suffered almost three weeks ago.

"Obviously he has had a little setback," Souttar said.

"But in terms of what he's doing, I think he's looking good."

Melbourne City livewire Marco Tilio has joined the Socceroos as a standby but remains outside the Socceroos' official 26-man squad.

FIFA rules permit coach Arnold to replace players suffering from injury or COVID-19 up to 24 hours before their first match.


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