Teenager Garang Kuol, who will join Newcastle in January, and former Scotland international Jason Cummings have been named in Australia’s 26-man squad for the World Cup, but experienced defender Trent Sainsbury is a surprise omission.
Kuol, an 18-year-old forward for the Central Coast Mariners, has yet to start a senior match but his pace and eye for goal led to the Premier League club agreeing a deal in September.
He has played once for Australia, against New Zealand two months ago, and Socceroos manager Graham Arnold is hoping the youngster’s energy can be a weapon for his side in Qatar.
“The kid just needs to be himself,” said Arnold. “Garang has showed how he can change a game. He has zero fear and he wants to entertain.”
Kuol’s Mariners team-mate and Edinburgh-born striker Cummings, who played twice for Scotland but qualifies for the Aussies through his mother, has scored goals throughout his career and found the target on his Australia debut.