Australia NewsRoos Crisis Looms As McDonald In Doubt |
SOCCEROOS striker Scott McDonald is in doubt for next month's crucial World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan after suffering an adductor injury while training for his club, Celtic.
McDonald's fitness will be assessed this week after he missed Celtic's 3-0 win over Falkirk over the weekend.He is a major doubt for this weekend's Old Firm clash with Rangers, while a cloud hangs over his fitness for Australia's friendly against The Netherlands the following week and the subsequent World Cup qualifier in Tashkent on September 10.
"Scott trained on Friday morning, because he is a brave wee soul. I thought he had something wrong with his ankle but apparently it is his adductor muscle. I don't know, he might be fit for next week, we will find out in the next couple of days," Celtic coach Gordon Strachan said.
Pim Verbeek will announce his squad for those two matches this Wednesday and would no doubt like to have a bit more information on McDonald's fitness before he makes his call.
McDonald's absence would be a major blow for a Socceroos side which is likely to be without injured stars Tim Cahill and Mark Viduka.
The striking options appear quite thin ahead of the Tashkent match, but Harry Kewell's strong form at new club Galatasaray will be heartening for Verbeek.
Kewell has scored two goals in as many matches and is making quite an impression in Turkey.
Richard Garcia, given his first cap last week against South Africa, is another pressing for selection after scoring his first Premier League goal for Hull on the weekend.
Brett Emerton's successful return from injury as a second half substitute for Blackburn is another positive for the Dutchman, while the short-term futures of transfer targets Mark Bresciano and Luke Wilkshire will be known by the end of the week.
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