Roar fullback Corey Brown has won back his place in the Olyroos squad – selected today with Brisbane striker Jamie Maclaren for two international friendly matches later this month.
The Olyroos will play Qatar U-23 (12 November) and Iran U-23 (16 November) in Doha and Dubai respectively as they continue their preparations for the AFC Under 23 championships in Qatar in January which also is the qualifying tournament for the 2016 Olympic Games.
The Olyroos need to finish in the top three teams from 16 nations at the championships to go to Rio de Janeiro.
Brown and Maclaren are among eight players drawn from the ranks of the Hyundai A-League. The majority of the squad is overseas-based.
Brown played in the AFC Under-23 qualifying tournament earlier this year but was not named for the Olyroos tour of Europe in early September and for games in South Korea in early October..
Maclaren missed the tour of South Korea bedcause of a knee injury.
Brown, 21, was delighted to today to learn of his recall.
“I’m very happy to be back in the squad. I knew I would get another chance if I put my head down and worked hard with the Roar,” he said.
“Ít’s two really important games in Qatar where the championships are so it will be good to get to know the local conditions we will be facing come January.”
Olyroos Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar agreed on the importance of the matches.
“For us it is a fantastic opportunity to play two matches against quality opposition so close to January,” said Vidmar.
“It is an extra bonus to play in Qatar so we can familiarise ourselves with the city we will be playing the Championship in as well.
“It was a good challenge for us to play two tough matches against South Korea last month and from those matches we know what we need to work on.
“This is the last chance for players to stake their claim and guarantee a place in the final squad with quality performances from this tour.”
The Olyroos will assemble in Doha on Monday 10 November to begin their preparations for the matches.
The Olyroos begin their AFC U23 Championship Doha 2016 campaign against the United Arab Emirates on 14 January at the Grand Hamad Stadium, before taking on Vietnam at the same venue on 17 January, with their final group match against Jordan on 20 January at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium.
Olyroos Squad for International Friendly matches against Qatar U-23 and Iran U-23 – 12 & 16 November: Mustafa AMINI (Randers FC, DENMARK), Joshua BRILLANTE (Calcio Como S.r.l, ITALY),Corey BROWN (Brisbane Roar FC, AUSTRALIA), Daniel DE SILVA (Roda JC Kerkrade, NETHERLANDS), Milos DEGENEK (TSV 1860 Munchen, GERMANY), Kenneth DOUGALL (Sparta Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS), Jack DUNCAN (gk) (Randers FC, DENMARK), Ryan EDWARDS (Partick Thistle FC, SCOTLAND), Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO (Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA), Scott GALLOWAY (Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA), Jason GERIA (Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA), Andrew HOOLE (Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA), Christopher IKONOMIDIS (SS Lazio, ITALY), Jackson IRVINE (Ross County FC, SCOTLAND), Aaron LENNOX (Uncontracted), Awer MABIL (FC Midtjylland, DENMARK), Jamie MACLAREN (Brisbane Roar FC, AUSTRALIA), Christopher NAUMOFF (Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA), Connor PAIN (Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA), Bradley SMITH (Uncontracted), Adam TAGGART (Dundee United FC, SCOTLAND), Steven UGARKOVIC (gk), (NK Osijek, CROATIA).
