Uncapped Striker Kusini Yengi Earns Maiden Socceroos Call-up for World Cup Qualifiers as Veterans Dropped
24-Year-Old Yengi, with his impressive performance of 5 goals in 8 games for Portsmouth, gets a shot in Australia's upcoming matches against Bangladesh and Palestine.
- Kusini Yengi, a 24-year-old striker who found success in England with Portsmouth, has been called up for the first time to join the Socceroos for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Palestine.
- Veterans including Milos Degenek, Andrew Redmayne, Tom Glover, and Awer Mabil have been left out of the squad due to recent performance issues. Redmayne, in particular, has shown shaky form as Sydney FC's goalkeeper.
- Yengi was originally considered for a call-up for a September window friendly against Mexico, but an ankle injury at that time prevented his participation.
- Assignments for the Socceroos in the November window do not come with any significant injury worries, with hopes high for two wins. The match against Bangladesh on home ground is the first for the Socceroos since a game against Ecuador in March.
- The Socceroos squad for qualifiers includes Jamie Maclaren, Joe Gauci, and uncapped goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer. Riley McGree, however, remains sidelined because of his foot injury.