Caltex Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou admits he’s taking a small risk by selecting underdone Trent Sainsbury and Brad Smith for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Iraq and UAE.
Postecoglou named centre-back Sainsbury and marauding fullback Smith in his final 23-man squad for Australia’s crucial matches in Tehran and Sydney.
Sainsbury hasn’t seen any first team action since moving on loan to Italian giants Inter Milan in January while Smith has been used sparingly by Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Ange's 23-man squad for Iraq, UAE games
Ange on super-fit Smith
“We’re relatively comfortable with where they’re at. Again, we prefer that they be playing,” Postecoglou told reporters on Tuesday.
“Brad will probably be different to Trent. They’re [Bournemouth] getting to the back end of their season. From his perspective, physically I don’t think there’s been an issue.
“Even when he’s come into camp without playing he’s always looked in good physical condition for us.
“He’s still training very, very hard. The data we’re getting obviously being at a Premier League club, shows that he’s still going to have fairly good fitness levels.
“He’s unlikely to be able to play in both games I’d suggest but we’re comfortable with him coming in.”
Sainsbury's intense training at Inter
Sainsbury hasn’t played since any club football since Australia’s World Cup qualifier against Thailand in November but Postecoglou said he was still keen to have the former Mariners stopper involved.
“With Trent, it’s a little bit of a different one. Again he’s obviously just training and he hasn’t been able to get [game] time for quite a while now.
“We’re taking a little bit of a punt on him. Trent in the past been pretty resilient for us.
“I’d certainly like to keep him involved because he’s been a big part of what we’ve done over the last three years.
“I don’t think he’ll be able to play in two games. He’s training very, very hard it Italy, we know that. He’s got some really big [training] loads and we’re comfortable he’ll get through a game.”
Defensive cover
With Smith and Sainsbury unlikely to play both fixtures, Postecoglou has selected cover in both positions with Bursaspor fullback Aziz Behich and Perth defender Rhys Williams both included.
The versatile Mark Milligan can also slot in at centre-back as could Mile Jedinak while Milos Degenek and Rhyan Grant are other options in the full back positions.
