Socceroos defensive hopefuls Trent Sainsbury and Curtis Good remain in a fitness battle to be ready for next month's World Cup in Brazil.
Socceroos defensive hopefuls Trent Sainsbury and Curtis Good remain in a fitness battle to be ready for next month's World Cup in Brazil.
With Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou to name his preliminary 30-man squad for the tournament next week, Sainsbury and Good are working overtime on getting back to full health.
The pair have both been battling injury for the last number of weeks which has kept them on the sidelines in the Netherlands and Scotland respectively.
Sainsbury has been nursing a knee problem after landing on a sprinkler on his debut for Dutch club PEC Zwolle back in February.
The former Central Coast defender returned to action with the clubs reserve side a fortnight ago but his knee is still not right and there are fears he may require surgery.
Good (hip) is also under an injury cloud after suffering a setback in his attempted return to first team action at Dundee United.
The 21-year-old, who suffered the injury playing for the Socceroos against Ecuador in March, is hopeful of being fit for this weekend's final regular season match away to Celtic this weekend, with the Scottish Cup final against St Johnstone also on his radar the week after.
Postecoglou's squad will assemble for a training camp in Gosford with all players needing to be close to full fitness so they can begin their preparations for the huge task ahead in Brazil.
The defensive pair is viewed as crucial members of the squad, especially now that veteran centre-back Lucas Neill has been told he won't be included, while Middlesbrough defender Rhys Williams is already out with a torn Achilles.
Goal-scorer for Western Sydney in last weekend's Hyundai A-League grand final Matthew Spiranovic, Alex Wilkinson and Ryan McGowan are also other contenders for the central defensive positions who are expected to be in the preliminary squad.
The final chance to see the Socceroos on home soil before they head to Brazil 2014 will be when they take on South Africa in a farewell game on May 26 in Sydney. Tickets for the match, presented by NAB, are on sale now. Click here to secure yours today.