Adelaide United sensation Nestory Irankunda has a chance of becoming the Socceroos’ youngest ever player after an unwell Riley McGree was ruled out of the first of two friendlies against Ecuador.
Middlesbrough midfielder McGree picked up a bug while travelling to Sydney from England ahead of Friday’s clash in Sydney, Australia head coach Graham Arnold said.
It means 17-year-old Irankunda, who was initially brought into the squad as a train-on player, could be awarded his international debut against the visiting South Americans at CommBank Stadium.
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“We only just saw him (McGree) for the first time this morning,” Arnold said on Thursday.
“He’s had the flu and those types of things so it gives Nestory the chance to be in the 26-man squad, and we’ll see how the game goes.”
Irankunda only turned 17 last month and would surpass Duncan Cummings, who won his first cap in 1975 against China aged 17 years and 139 days, as Australia’s youngest-ever player.
The teenager has scored four goals in 2022-23, all four coming off the bench for Carl Veart’s Adelaide.
Labelled a “rare talent” by his Reds boss, he has also scored seven ALM goals in his career, tying the league record for most goals scored before 18 (level with former Adelaide sensation Mohamed Toure).
Arnold also hinted that uncapped duo Jordan Bos (Melbourne City) and Alex Robertson (Manchester City) could win their maiden caps on Friday evening.
But Arnold said their inclusions would be supplemented by the core of players who reached the last 16 at last year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Football Australia has billed the Ecuador friendlies as a homecoming celebration of the team’s best-ever finish at a World Cup, but Arnold is keen for the games to act as a stepping stone towards next year’s Asian Cup and beyond.
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“It’s a great opportunity to blend,” Arnold said.
“If you put just the kids in all alone without the older players as the leaders to help them on the pitch it could be a little bit daunting for them.
“Publicly this is about an opportunity to celebrate what the boys did, but internally it’s been more about the new campaign starting.
“We did a great presentation reflecting on the World Cup; that’s our base and it’s about going higher than we did (in Qatar).”
Goalkeeper Mat Ryan will captain the side with Arnold revealing Milos Degenek would start at right back.
Arnold also confirmed assistant coach Rene Meulensteen had inked a contract extension with FA this week.
Youngest Socceroo debutants
*Nestory Irankunda (v Ecuador, ) 17years 43 days
Duncan Cummings (v China, 1975) 17 years 139 days
George Christopoulos (v Greece, 1978) 17 years 182 days
Harry Kewell (v Chile, 1996) 17 years 214 days
*If Irankunda plays on Friday
Arnie’s reaction to a possible new position for Souttar at Leicester
Meanwhile, there was a funny exchange as Socceroos defender Harry Souttar fielded a question about a possible new position for Leicester City which left his boss Arnold clearly stunned.
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Leicester are 17th and just a point above the drop zone.
Rodgers wants to see him hitting the target like he does for the Socceroos, having netted six goals in 14 Australia internationals, and believes Souttar has the footballing ability to morph from no-nonsense stopper into a skilled attacker.
“We could play him up front. We’ve had him there in training. He’s a fantastic footballer, outstanding on the ball. He makes the right passes,” said Rodgers, who’s seeking to drag Leicester from their precarious position of 17th, just one point above the relegation zone.
Asked by KEEPUP about his club manager’s comments, a stunned Arnold said, “What was that?!”
“We had a bit of fun in training one day and we got to change positions so I went up front for a little bit,” Souttar explained to reporters.
Arnold stepped in to add while laughing: “We did that as well and put him up front for the last five minutes.”
“I didn’t win a header, did I?,” Souttar replied.
“It’s one of those things if you’re chasing a game, there’s always a different plan. I think it came off the back of the game at the weekend. We had a few corners and throw-ins, and I kind of stayed up there for about 30 seconds.”
