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Cisak the bolter for the Socceroos

Uncapped goalkeeper Alex Cisak is the surprise inclusion in Australia coach Ange Postecoglou's 23-man squad for next month's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Tajikistan - with Tom Rogic recalled after a long absence due to injury.

Cisak

Alex Cisak has played his professional career in England's lower leagues (Getty) Source: Getty Images

The Socceroos matches against Bangladesh and Tajikistan will be broadcast on a one hour delay on SBS.

Poland-born Cisak grew up in Hobart and at 26 is called up for the first time after starting the season well for League Two side Leyton Orient.

Midfielder Jackson Irvine, who made his debut against Canada in October 2013 gets another chance to impress, as he embarks on another Scottish Premier League campaign with Ross County.

2015 AFC Asian Cup heroes Robbie Kruse and Massimo Luongo also return to the national team set-up but there is no place for James Troisi - who scored the winner in the final against Korea Republic.

The Socceroos play Bangladesh in Perth on Thursday 3 September and Tajikistan in Dushanbe on Tuesday 8 September.

Rogic was last part of the Socceroos set up in the lead up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and his selection follows a bright start to the season with Celtic while Kruse and Luongo also come back into the squad after missing the 2-1 win over Kyrgyzstan in June.

“It’s a positive that we’ve been able to recall Massimo (Luongo), Robbie (Kruse) and Tom Rogic after they missed recent matches and they add attacking options to the squad for the two matches in Perth and Dushanbe,” Postecoglou, who is in Kuala Lumpur attending an AFC Coaching Conference this week, said.

“All three have regained fitness and started the season in form so they come back in and give us plenty of options and good depth in an attacking sense. When you add them to the likes of Tim Cahill, Matt Leckie, Tomi Juric, Nathan Burns and Tommy Oar the fans in Perth have a lot to get excited about.

“We started the World Cup qualification process with a win against Kyrgyzstan in tough conditions and now we have to continue that in front of our own fans in Perth and then on another tricky away trip to Dushanbe.”

While captain Mile Jedinak and talisman Tim Cahill headline the selections, Postecoglou has also named Aaron Mooy, Adam Federici and Ryan McGowan - with the Socceroos to play in Perth for the first time since 2005.

The players to drop out from the squad that defeated Kyrzygstan in March are Oliver Bozanic, Chris Ikonimidis, Daniel de Silva, Ivan Franjic, Eugene Galekovic, Mitch Langerak, Tomislav Mrcela and Troisi.

Socceroos squad is

NameClub, CountryA International Caps (Goals)
Aziz BehichBursaspor, Turkey11 (2)
Nathan BurnsFC Tokyo, Japan13 (0)
Tim CahillShanghai Shenhua, China83 (39)
Alex Cisak (gk)Leyton Orient, England-
Jason DavidsonHuddersfield Town AFC, England18 (1)
Tarek ElrichAdelaide United, Australia1 (0)
Adam Federici (gk)AFC Bournemouth, England10 (0)
Jackson IrvineRoss County, Scotland1 (0)
Mile JedinakCrystal Palace, England59 (9)
Tomi JuricRoda JC Kerkrade, Netherlands13 (2)
Robbie KruseBayer Leverkusen, Germany38 (4)
Mathew LeckieFC Ingolstadt 04, Germany25 (1)
Massimo LuongoQueens Park Rangers, England12 (2)
Ryan McGowanDundee United, Scotland12 (0)
Matt McKayBrisbane Roar, Australia56 (2)
Mark MilliganBaniyas SC, UAE40 (3)
Aaron MooyMelbourne City, Australia6 (3)
Tommy OarUnattached23 (2)
Tom RogicCeltic, Scotland9 (0)
Mat Ryan (gk)Valencia, Spain21 (0)
Matthew SpiranovicHangzhou Greentown, China27 (0)
Alex WilkinsonJeonbuk Hyundai, Korea Republic15 (0)
Bailey WrightPreston North End, England3 (1)

“The players we have brought into the squad have all started their respective seasons with some good performances and will get an opportunity to impress while they are in good form and fitness,” Postecoglou said.

Australia has never played Bangladesh or Tajikistan at full international level.

 

Socceroos Match Details

 

Australia v Bangladesh

Thursday 3 September 2015     

nib Stadium, Perth

7pm (AWT) kick off (9pm AEST)

 

Tajikistan v Australia

Tuesday 8 September 2015

Republican Central Stadium, Dushanbe

6pm kick off (10pm AEST)


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Source: SBS


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