Socceroos Abroad: Midweek goals, Gauci arrives and Behich full debut

Tim Gibson \\ Photo Credit: Portsmouth FC, Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers 1707983760,1708479370

Several Subway Socceroos put in quality performances during the week, with plenty of goals and a full starting debut for Aziz Behich alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Read on for all of the mid-week action and the who, what, and where over the weekend.

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Subway Socceroos

Joe Gauci (cap #631) has arrived in Birmingham and taken to the training pitch for the first time since singing for Aston Villa on deadline day. As part of the introduction to Premier League life, the young shot stopper spoke to Villa's in house media team about the move and challenge ahead.

Aziz Behich (cap #547) made his full starting debut at left-back for Al Nassr, playing all of the side’s 1-0 win over Al-Fayha in the AFC Asian Champions League on Thursday. Behich could get some more game time against Al Fateh on Sunday at 4:00 am (AEDT) in the Saudi Pro League.

Craig Goodwin (cap #562) was named in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Team of the Tournament during the week following the Final last weekend. He will be back in contention for Al-Wehda's clash with Al-Ta'ee in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday at 4:00 am (AEDT).

Kusini Yengi (cap #638) starred for Portsmouth, winning and then firing home a penalty before being substituted in the 72nd minute, as his team defeated Cambridge United 3-1 on Wednesday in League One. Portsmouth host Reading on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT).

Gethin Jones (cap #639) scored Bolton Wanderer’s opener as the side edged past Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 on Wednesday in League One. Bolton next face Charlton Athletic on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT).

Riley McGree (cap #609) and Tom Glover both played full games for Middlesbrough in their 2-1 defeat to Preston North End on Thursday morning. Samuel Silvera (cap #634) came on in the 68th minute. The trio could all start on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT) when Michael Carrick’s men travel to Harry Souttar’s (cap #606) league-leading Leicester City.

Cameron Burgess (cap #633) played a full game for Ipswich Town as they got up in a convincing 4-0 win over Millwall on Thursday morning. Massimo Luongo (cap #571) played 76 minutes for Ipswich. The pair should start on Saturday when Ipswich take on Swansea City on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT).

Dimitri Petratos (cap #593) scored Mohun Bagan SG’s only goal as they defeated FC Goa 1-0 on Wednesday in the Indian Super League. Petratos and Jason Cummings (cap #626) could start for Mohun Bagan SG’s home game against Northeast United on Saturday at 10:30 pm (AEDT).

Callum Elder (cap #614) played well in his full 90 for Derby County as they downed Exeter City 3-0 in the EFL League One on Wednesday. Derby travel to Lincoln on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT).

In some injury news, Milos Degenek (cap #585) has undergone surgery to clean bone fragments in his heel, taking to Instagram to thank the surgeon who completed the procedure.

In the Scottish Premiership, Keanu Baccus (cap #628) should start again for St Mirren in their away trip to Livingston on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT). Ryan Strain (cap #624) continues to recover from injury and is unlikely to feature.

Martin Boyle (cap #599) and Lewis Miller (cap #635) will be in line to play full games again when Hibernian travel to Aberdeen on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT).

Cameron Devlin (cap #625) is aiming to force force his way back into the Hearts’ team for their home match against Motherwell on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT). Kye Rowles (cap #622) and Nathaniel Atkinson (cap #620) will look to build up some more minutes for Hearts as well.

Ryan McGowan (cap #546) could be back in the starting lineup for St Johnstone as they do battle with Rangers on Saturday at 11:00 pm (AEDT).

In Scotland's League One, Dylan McGowan will seek another successive start for Hamilton Academical in their top-of-the-table clash against Falkirk on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT).

In Germany’s 2. Bundesliga, Jackson Irvine (cap #568) looks set to return after missing last weekend with an illness. Connor Metcalfe (cap #611) should feature in their home tie with Eintracht Braunschweig on Saturday at 11:30 pm (AEDT).

Asian Cup squad member John Iredale could also get more minutes in the same competition for SV Wehen Wiesbaden against Schalke 04 on Saturday at 11:00 pm (AEDT).

Mathew Ryan (cap #555) should be the goalkeeper again for AZ Alkmaar as they look to get out of a recent lul in their away clash with Fortuna Sittard on Sunday at 4:45 am (AEDT) in the Eredivisie.

Ajdin Hrustic (cap #589) faces a stern test against Eredivisie league leaders PSV Eindhoven as he looks to make it two starts in a row for Heracles on Saturday at 6:00 am (AEDT).

Elsewhere in the Dutch top flight, Garang Kuol (cap #627) will seek more minutes off the bench for FC Volendam against Vitesse on Monday at 12:30 am (AEDT).

Over to Belgium First Division A, where Westerlo’s Jordan Bos (cap #632) faces Standard Liege’s Aiden O’Neill (cap #629) on Saturday at 6:45 am (AEDT).

Also in the competition, Jason Davidson (cap #545) should be in action for Eupen in their home tie with Gent on Monday at 5:15 am (AEDT).

In France’s Ligue 1, Denis Genreau (cap #610) remains sidelined with injury and is unlikely to feature for Toulouse this week.

Alessandro Circati (cap #637) looks likely to start again for Parma as they host Pisa in Serie B on Sunday at 12:00 am (AEDT).

Fran Karacic (cap #607) could debut for Rudes in the Croatia 1. Division on Sunday at 3:10 am (AEDT) against Hajduk Split.

James Holland (cap #508) could play in the Austrian Bundesliga for Australia Wien as they take on Altach on Sunday at 3:00 am (AEDT).

Connor Pain (cap #565) notched an assist for Al-Orobah on Tuesday as they beat Ohod Club 2-1 in the Saudi Second Tier.

Kenny Dougall (cap #608) continued his bright start to life at Buriram United, playing a key part in their 4-0 victory over Sukhothai FC in the Thai League on Wednesday. Dougall is likely to play again on Sunday at 9:30 pm (AEDT) against Trat FC.

Subway Olyroos

Nikolas Bilokapic will be targeting a big performance in goal for Peterborough United as they host Blackpool on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT) in the EFL League One.

There could be several Aussies involved in Premier League 2 over the weekend.

Cameron Peupion should play again for Brighton and Hove Albion Under 21 on Sunday at 1:00 am (AEDT) against Stoke City. Steven Hall could also be involved for the first time for the Seagulls.

Also in the competition, Chris Donnell may play for Fulham Under 21 on Saturday morning at 6:00 am (AEDT) as they travel to Norwich City.

Nectarios Triantis will look to build on his early strong form for Hibernian against Aberdeen on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT) in the Scottish Premiership.

Calem Nieuwenhof should be in action in the same competition at the same time, with Hearts hosting Motherwell. 

Subway Young Socceroos

Adrian Segecic could get some further game time for FC Dordrecht in the Eerste Divisie against VVV-Venlo on Saturday at 6:00 am (AEDT).