Socceroo coach Graham Arnold says he is willing to give A-League players a chance to shine for the Socceroos in this month's friendly fixtures.
Citing a lack of depth in the national team, due to both injury and inexperience, Arnold admits he will look to the domestic league to find players for the squads against China and Saudi Arabia.
"It's up to me to develop the younger players into the system as soon as possible. I'm looking at the big picture and the China and Saudi games [later in March] are a good chance to have a look at some fringe players to blend them in."
Arnold says Melbourne Victory duo Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp and other A-Leaguers were being seriously looked at for the Asian Cup and beyond.
"Danny and Archie are both in my plans. We have issues with some A-League players not playing for three months which I've already pre-planned – they'll train with our Olympics side. So any selected for the Asian Cup will be fit and ready to go.
"When I talk about the big picture it's about 2010 and when you look at the doubts long term over Viduka and Aloisi, you gotta look outside the squad.
"There are 12 World Cup qualifiers and six will be on a Wednesday night when we won't be able to get our European-based boys because of their club fixtures, so the A-League will have a massive responsibility in that regard."
Asked whether Nick Carle – the newly crowned A-League player of the year – would be one of those to be fast tracked, Arnold neither confirmed or denied the talismanic Jets linkman was on his radar.
"Nicky Carle has had a very good second half of the season. Unfortunately my hands were tied on a number of occasions last season when I couldn't select A-League players, such as the Paraguay, Ghana and Denmark games as the A-League isn't in line with FIFA dates.
"Nicky's fitness levels have improved and his defensive responsibilities have too. But you always want to play a player on his strengths and his are his attacking side. As long as he does his job within the team defensively.
"Nicky's form wasn't crash hot at the start of the season when we had the Kuwaiti squad but since Gary Van Egmond took [at the Jets] over he's performed much better."
"It's up to me to develop the younger players into the system as soon as possible. I'm looking at the big picture and the China and Saudi games [later in March] are a good chance to have a look at some fringe players to blend them in."
Arnold says Melbourne Victory duo Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp and other A-Leaguers were being seriously looked at for the Asian Cup and beyond.
"Danny and Archie are both in my plans. We have issues with some A-League players not playing for three months which I've already pre-planned – they'll train with our Olympics side. So any selected for the Asian Cup will be fit and ready to go.
"When I talk about the big picture it's about 2010 and when you look at the doubts long term over Viduka and Aloisi, you gotta look outside the squad.
"There are 12 World Cup qualifiers and six will be on a Wednesday night when we won't be able to get our European-based boys because of their club fixtures, so the A-League will have a massive responsibility in that regard."
Asked whether Nick Carle – the newly crowned A-League player of the year – would be one of those to be fast tracked, Arnold neither confirmed or denied the talismanic Jets linkman was on his radar.
"Nicky Carle has had a very good second half of the season. Unfortunately my hands were tied on a number of occasions last season when I couldn't select A-League players, such as the Paraguay, Ghana and Denmark games as the A-League isn't in line with FIFA dates.
"Nicky's fitness levels have improved and his defensive responsibilities have too. But you always want to play a player on his strengths and his are his attacking side. As long as he does his job within the team defensively.
"Nicky's form wasn't crash hot at the start of the season when we had the Kuwaiti squad but since Gary Van Egmond took [at the Jets] over he's performed much better."
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