Socceroos squad named for road to Qatar 2022

Australia's next generation of football talent has been given the nod to start the Socceroos path to the 2022 World Cup.

Coach Graham Arnold has picked 12 players with 10 caps or less to their name in his 23-man squad for the opening qualifier against Kuwait on September 10.

Scottish-born defender Souttar is the only uncapped player in the squad, with Brandon Borrello, Ajdin Hrustic and goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne all boasting just one cap each.

On the other end of the experience scale, captain Mark Milligan has ended doubts about his ongoing international career with the 34-year-old named in what will be his 80th appearance for the national team.

Fellow regulars Mat Ryan, Aaron Mooy, Mathew Leckie, Trent Sainsbury and Massimo Luongo are also included in the squad.

"I find it exciting for the Socceroos and the nation that there were so many more players in contention for this squad," Arnold said.

"(I) am expecting healthy competition for places in the starting side for Kuwait and our upcoming qualification matches as we target a winning start on our journey to Qatar."

Just three A-League based players have been named with Sydney FC's Rhyan Grant joining teammate Redmayne and Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren in the 23.

In-form striker Taggart, who leads the scoring charts in South Korea's K-League, has also been named after making his first Socceroos appearance in five years in a 1-0 friendly defeat to South Korea in Busan in June.

Newly returned Melbourne Victory duo Andrew Nabbout and Robbie Kruse have been overlooked to gain fitness ahead of the A-League season starting in October, while Tom Rogic also misses out through lack of playing time with Celtic following his recent knock.

Australia's players will gather in a training camp in the United Arab Emirates in the week before the qualifying opener against Kuwait.

The Socceroos beat Kuwait 4-0 last October in a friendly that also marked the start of Arnold's second stint in charge of the national team.

After the Kuwait game, the Socceroos will play Nepal in Canberra on October 10, Chinese Taipei in Kaohsiung on October 15, and Jordan in Jordan on November 14.