The defender's failure to report for the start of last week's Townsville training camp infuriated the FFA and the coaching staff.

Milligan was reportedly trialling for English club Arsenal at the time but FFA officials insisted they had no idea why the player had not turned up when requested to.

He was hauled before officials and banned for the forthcoming eight-team tournament in Malaysia.

He was not happy and threatened to appeal the decision. However it seems player and coach have got together to talk things through and the skipper's punishment has now been reduced to two matches.

An FFA spokesman said: "Included in the squad, subject to a fitness test on Monday, is Mark Milligan whose suspension for non-attendance at the Townsville training camp was reduced to two matches yesterday following frank and open discussions between Milligan, Qantas Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek and Qantas Under 23s coach Graham Arnold. It is anticipated that Milligan will play in the match against Ghana on 20 May."

The 8 team tournament, which also includes representatives from Ghana, Croatia, Chile, Nigeria, Republic of Ireland, Iraq and Malaysia, kicks off on Thursday 15 May 2008.

The Qantas Under 23s are placed in Group B and play their first match against Croatia on Friday 16 May (kick-off 11.00pm AEST), and then play Chile on Sunday 18 May (kick-ff 11:00pm AEST) before their final group match against Ghana on Tuesday 20 May (kick-off 10.45pm AEST). The top two teams from each group then advance to the semi-finals on Friday 23 May, with the final to be played on Sunday 25 May (kick-off 10.45pm AEST)