It was a successful new-year period for Aussies Abroad as the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 edges closer, with Australia playing a friendly ahead of the tournament on Saturday.
Newly-minted Subway Socceroo Gethin Jones put in an outstanding defensive display for Bolton Wanderers, while Tom Glover made it two starts in a row for Middlesbrough as goalkeeper.
Aussies were also in fine form in Scotland as Socceroo playmaker Keanu Baccus got his fourth consecutive start for St. Mirren, and Olyroo Calem Nieuwenhof picked up an assist for Hearts.
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- READ MORE: Who are the new additions to the Socceroos' Asian Cup squad?
Subway Socceroos
Massimo Luongo (cap #571) and Cameron Burgess (cap #633) played full games for Ipswich Town as they were held to a 0-0 stalemate with Queens Park Rangers on Saturday in the EFL Championship. The pair combined for over a quarter of Ipswich’s total passes in the match.
Three more Socceroos got on the field in the Championship for Middlesbrough on Saturday as they edged past Huddersfield 2-1. Tom Glover was the side's starting goalkeeper, Sam Silvera (cap #634) started and played 78 minutes up front, and Riley McGree (cap #609) was brought on in the 78th minute for Michael Carrick’s men as he steps up his recovery ahead of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.
Harry Souttar (cap #606) remained on the bench for Leicester City as the Championship league leaders downed Cardiff City 2-0 on Saturday.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/Boro/status/1740850592451346924
There was plenty of Socceroos action in the EFL League One on Saturday.
Gethin Jones was a rock at the back for Bolton Wanderers in their 2-0 win against Fleetwood Town on Saturday. The first-time selected Socceroos was successful in all three of his tackles and all of his aerial duels.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/OfficialBWFC/status/1741066611409444958
Alexander Robertson (cap #630) played an hour for Portsmouth in their 0-0 draw with Exeter City on Saturday, while Kusini Yengi (cap #638) came on in the 83rd minute for Pompey.
There were some more strong performances in Scotland over the weekend, starting with the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Keanu Baccus (cap #628) made it four full games in a row as St. Mirren downed Aberdeen 3-0. The midfielder completed 24 of his 34 passes for his team and registered nine defensive actions.
Kye Rowles (cap #622) and Nathaniel Atkinson (cap #620) both played a full game for Hearts as the side drew 2-2 with Ross County.
Dylan McGowan (cap #590) got through all of Hamilton Academical’s 5-2 smashing on FC Edinburgh in the Scottish League One. The result further solidifies Hamilton’s position in an automatic promotion spot as 2023 finishes up.
Craig Goodwin (cap #562) played all of Al-Wehda’s 1-0 defeat to Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday. The experienced winger locked horns with former Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Carrasco and three-time UEFA Europa League winner Ever Banega.
Subway Olyroos
Nicholas Bilokapic was taken off with an injury in the 20th minute of Peterborough United’s 2-2 with Barnsley on Saturday morning in the EFL League One.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/theposh/status/1740826400255254848
Nectarios Triantis sat on the bench for Sunderland in their EFL Championship 1-1 draw with Rotherham United on Sunday.
Calem Nieuwenhof starred for Hearts in the Scottish Premiership, notching an assist against Ross County in a 2-2 draw on Sunday.
Other Aussies
Ashley Maynard-Brewer was the starter in goal for Charlton Athletic as they went down 2-1 to Bristol Rovers.
Dean Bouzanis started in Sutton United’s goal as they went down 1-0 to Gillingham in the EFL League Two.
Nikola Ujdur played a full game for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in their 0-0 draw with Greenock Morton in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Christian Volpato was unable to impact the scoreline when he came on in the 65th minute of Sassuolo’s 1-0 loss to AC Milan in Serie A on Sunday.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/SassuoloUS/status/1741163473633968504
Zak Gilsenan was an unused substitute for Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship as the team slumped to their fourth loss in a row in a 3-2 defeat to Hull City on Sunday.