Socceroos captain out of World Cup qualifiers

Socceroos captain Mat Ryan is set to miss Australia’s World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Palestine next month.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper, who is off-contract at his Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, will be rested from the matches in Dhaka (June 6) and Perth (June 11).

In Ryan’s absence, Aston Villa’s Joe Gauci – who has made two Socceroos appearances – is expected to start between the posts.

Middlesbrough keeper Tom Glover also won’t be named in the squad after suffering a broken finger.

Expected to join 23-year-old Gauci in the squad are Western Sydney Wanderers gloveman Lawrence Thomas and in-form custodian Paul Izzo, whose fine performances have helped Melbourne Victory reach Saturday night’s A-League grand final against Central Coast Mariners.

Others in selection contention who will be playing on Saturday night include Victory striker Bruno Fornaroli, and Mariners trio Josh Nisbet, Jacob Farrell and Max Balard.

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold will also have an eye on a host of players representing the A-League All-Stars on Friday night against English Premier League club Newcastle United.

They include attackers Adam Taggart, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Mathew Leckie and Nestory Irankunda.

Arnold will next week announce a squad of at least 23 players, but they won’t include injured quartet Riley McGree, Brandon Borrello, Marco Tilio and Aiden O’Neill.

Despite the Socceroos having already qualified for the third round of AFC World Cup qualifiers, Arnold won’t settle for anything less than wins over Bangladesh and Palestine to give Australia the best possible chance of being among the three nations placed in pot one for the round three draw.

Asia’s top three ranked team are currently Japan, Iran and South Korea, but the Socceroos are well within striking distance of the Koreans.

Meanwhile, Socceroos midfielder Keanu Baccus has joined English lower league club Mansfield Town on a two-year deal.

Former Western Sydney Wanderers star Baccus, 25, has joined the League One (third-tier) outfit from Scottish Premiership club St Mirren, where he spent the past two seasons.

Mansfield manager Nigel Clough said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Keanu has agreed to join us.

“He had plenty of suitors, in League One especially, when it was known that he wanted to play in England and we’ve managed to persuade him to come and join us.

“He has much potential, is at a good age and we think he plays in the manner which we like – on the front foot and good at winning the ball back.”