Arnie names his new-look squad

Arnold’s squad selections for October’s FIFA window includes 21-players that featured in the recent training camp in Turkey, and also marks the returns of Mathew Leckie and Tom Rogic to the squad for the first time since the World Cup.

The squad that will fly into the UAE on Monday also features four players yet to make their senior international debuts – youngsters Thomas Deng (21), Denis Genreau (19), and Awer Mabil (23) – as well as 25-year-old attacker Martin Boyle.

While Deng, Genreau, and Mabil will each be aiming to make their Socceroos debut in Kuwait City, Boyle will only travel with the squad for the UAE leg of the camp only.

Boyle – who is a teammate of Socceroos Mark Milligan and Jamie Maclaren at Hibernian FC in Scotland – is yet to receive clearance to play for the green and gold.

But he has committed to play international football with Australia and is eligible through his Sydney-born dad.

The FFA is currently working with FIFA to speed through his paperwork and believes he will soon be cleared to represent the Socceroos.

Emerging young talents Alex Gersbach (21) and Daniel Arzani (19), who share nine caps between them, have also been included in Arnold’s squad.

“We believe we have selected a well-balanced squad to travel to the UAE and on to Kuwait City for our October camp,” Arnold said.

“This group will have the opportunity to build upon the standards and principles of play that we established in Antalya, and crucially have the chance to implement the new style that we are working towards in an international match situation when we play Kuwait.

“While some players have missed out on this camp, they, along with many other players globally, remain firmly on our radar as we work towards selecting the best possible squad to help us excel at next year’s AFC Asian Cup.”

The Socceroos will face Kuwait at the 18,500-capacity Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium in Kuwait City on Monday October 15 at 7.30pm (3.30am AEDT on Tuesday).

Australia and Kuwait have played 11 matches at senior men’s international level in the past, with the first meeting between the two nations coming in Sydney in 1977, and the most recent being played in Melbourne during the opening match of the Asian Cup in 2015, where Australia won 4-1.

The Socceroos will return to Australia to Play South Korea on Saturday, November 17 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, before meeting Lebanon on Tuesday November 20 at ANZ Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park.

Socceroos Squad – United Arab Emirates/Kuwait – October 2018