“Tom Rogic, Aaron Mooy and Adam Taggart were unavailable for selection this window due to injury or quarantine,” Arnold said as he unveiled his squad. 

 

“However we have developed good depth in the Socceroos over the past few years and the squad that has been selected is one that we have full belief in to perform strongly for the Australian public.”

 

Australia’s game against Saudi Arabia at Western Sydney Stadium on November 11 will see the Socceroos host a FIFA World Cup qualifying match on home soil for the first time since October 2019, when Arnold’s team handed Nepal a 5-0 defeat.

Saudi Arabia currently lead Group B with 12 points from their first four games while the Australians are in second, three points behind, following a 2-1 loss against Japan in their most recent qualifier in October. Only the top two teams are guaranteed to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup.

 

Arnold has handed recalls to Melbourne City trio Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Andrew Nabbout, who have been selected alongside fellow A-League player Rhyan Grant of Sydney FC following the team’s return to home soil.

 

“The players selected for our upcoming FIFA window are brimming with excitement to return home and to play in front of Australian supporters, as well as their family and friends,” Arnold said. 

“The players will get so much energy from playing in front of a strong home crowd at a first-class stadium.”

 

Following the game against Saudi Arabia, Australia will travel to the United Arab Emirates, where they will take on China PR in Sharjah on November 16.

Australia Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan, Lawrence Thomas, Danny Vukovic.
Defenders: Aziz Behich, Milos Degenek, Rhyan Grant, Fran Karacic, Trent Sainsbury, Harry Souttar.
Midfielders: Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, James Jeggo, Denis Genreau, Kenneth Dougall, Riley McGree, Andrew Nabbout, Gianni Stensness.
Forwards: Mitchell Duke, Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren, Nikita Rukavytsya, Martin Boyle, Awer Mabil.