Cahill returns for Socceroos internationals against Greece

Coach Ange Postecoglou made 10 changes to Australia's squad for the two international matches against Greece in Sydney on Saturday 4 June and Melbourne three days later, with talisman Tim Cahill among the recalled stars.

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The changes from the Socceroos squad for the upcoming international with England on 28 May (AEST) include Cahill (Hangzhou Greentown FC), Mark Birighitti (Newcastle Jets), Nathan Burns (FC Tokyo), Jason Geria (Melbourne Victory), Alex Gersbach (Rosenborg), Apostolos Giannou (Guangzhou R&F), Mathew Leckie (FC Ingolstadt), Ryan McGowan (Henan Jianye), Trent Sainsbury (Jiangsu Suning), Matthew Spiranovic (Hangzhou Greentown).

"I'm not going to a World Cup again sweating on guys being fit and not having options if they're not," Postecoglou said.

"We've got to go into every camp, every game knowing that if we're missing one or two ... we've got others to call on."

Birighitti has also been drafted into for the squad for the England clash, replacing Mitch Langerak, who has had to withdraw due to injury.

With The Dodoni Series between Australia and Greece falling inside the FIFA window, Postecoglou was able to consider all available players when selecting the squad.

“The matches against Greece are about continuing to expose our players to a high level of international football,” Postecoglou said.

“The competition and intensity of these matches will definitely give us that and gives us the right preparation for the next round of World Cup qualifiers and the Confederations Cup.

“Playing in front of big home crowds is an opportunity both for the players and the fans to build on the great atmosphere that has been created during the first round of World Cup qualifiers in Perth, Canberra, Adelaide and Sydney.”

Postecoglou said a rare home international against European opposition was another benefit.

“The Asian Cup and the first round of World Cup qualifiers put our focus on Asian teams and conditions but it’s important to confront a range of styles,” Postecoglou said.

“Greece will present a different set of technical and tactical challenges and they have many players at the top level in Europe.

“Of course, the Greek Australian community will have special affinity to the matches and that will add to the occasion in Sydney and Melbourne.”

Milos Degenek, Brad Inman, Jamie Maclaren and Stefan Mauk could make their international bows in England, with Geria, Gersbach and Maclaren again possible home debutants.

Postecoglou stressed that any cap won would be deserved.

"The two Greece games, one being after the other, I'll take an opportunity to get a look at most of the guys. It's important in these friendly games we do that," he said.

"But we're putting out teams that we think will be able to play our football and give an opportunity to as many as possible."

Massimo Luongo won't travel to Australia as his wife is expecting their first child next month.

Socceroos squad for the internationals against Greece

Name	Club, Country	A International Caps (Goals)
Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk)	Newcastle Jets	1 (0)
Nathan BURNS	FC Tokyo	20 (3)
Tim CAHILL	Hangzhou Greentown FC	89 (47)
Adam FEDERICI (gk)	A.F.C. Bournemouth	15 (0)
Jason GERIA	Melbourne Victory FC	-
Alex GERSBACH	Rosenborg BK	-
Apostolos GIANNOU	Guangzhou R&F FC	1 (0)
Chris IKONOMIDIS	U.S. Salernitana 1919	3 (0)
Jackson IRVINE	Ross County	2 (0)
Mile JEDINAK	Crystal Palace FC	62 (12)
Robbie KRUSE	Bayer 04 Leverkusen	40 (4)
Mathew LECKIE	FC Ingolstadt 04	29 (2)
Jamie MACLAREN	Brisbane Roar FC	-
Ryan MCGOWAN	Henan Jianye FC	15 (0)
Mark MILLIGAN	Baniyas F.C.	46 (5)
Aaron MOOY	Melbourne City FC	13 (5)
Josh RISDON	Perth Glory FC	2 (0)
Tom ROGIC	Celtic FC	15 (5)
Mathew RYAN (gk)	Valencia CF	23 (0)
Trent SAINSBURY	Jiangsu Suning FC	14 (1)
Brad SMITH	Liverpool FC	6 (0)
Matthew SPIRANOVIC	Hangzhou Greentown FC	30 (0)
Bailey WRIGHT	Preston North End FC	10 (1)