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Captain named in extended Socceroos squad

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Captain Matt McKay has been selected in an extended 30-man Caltex Socceroos squad for upcoming World Cup Qualifiers later this month.

The squad, announced this morning, will face Iraq in Tehran on Thursday, 23 March (10pm KO QLD time) and United Arab Emirates in Sydney on Tuesday, 28 March.

Get your tickets to the Caltex Socceroos match in Sydney HERE!

The squad will be trimmed to 23 following this weekend’s matches with players all over the world given one final chance to press their claims to be part of the squad. View the full 30-man squad below.

“We have named an extended squad with a few notable returns but we will make a final decision after this weekend’s matches around Australia, Asia and Europe,”  says Head Coach Ange Postecoglou said.

McKay is one of seven Hyundai A-League players to be selected in the side.

“There is also recognition for some players who have been in good form in the A-League and have the characteristics to fit in with some of our experienced players as we move into an important stretch of qualifying,” Postecoglou said.

It’s a deserved re-call to the national squad for our captain. He has been a consistent performer in the heart of midfield during the Hyundai A-League season, playing 21 matches in a campaign that has seen him become the first player to make 200 appearances for the club.

McKay has been capped 59 times for the Socceroos, representing the nation at the 2011 & 2015 AFC Asian Cups and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The Caltex Socceroos currently sit in third in Group B in the final stage of qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with the top two sides automatically booked their trip to Russia.

Following the upcoming fixtures, Australia have three remaining qualififers against Saudi Arabia (June 8), Japan (August 31) and Thailand (September 5).

McKay 16x9

 Name

Club, Country

A International Caps (Goals)

Mustafa AMINI

Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF), DENMARK

Aziz BEHICH

Bursaspor, TURKEY

11 (2)

Nathan BURNS

FC Tokyo, JAPAN

24 (3)

Tim CAHILL

Melbourne City FC, AUSTRALIA

94 (48)

Milos DEGENEK

Yokohama F Marinos, JAPAN

5 (0)

Ryan EDWARDS

Partick Thistle FC, SCOTLAND

Alex GERSBACH

Rosenborg BK, NORWAY

2 (0)

Craig GOODWIN

Sparta Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS

3 (0)

Rhyan GRANT

Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA

Chris IKONOMIDIS

Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF), DENMARK

6 (0)

Jackson IRVINE

Burton Albion FC, ENGLAND

7 (0)

Mile JEDINAK

Aston Villa FC, ENGLAND

68 (15)

James JEGGO

SK Sturm Graz, AUSTRIA

Tomi JURIC

FC Luzern, SWITZERLAND

20 (4)

Robbie KRUSE

Liaoning Whowin FC, CHINA

48 (4)

Mitchell LANGERAK

VfB Stuttgart FC, GERMANY

6 (0)

Mathew LECKIE

FC Ingolstadt 04, GERMANY

37 (3)

Massimo LUONGO

Queens Park Rangers FC, ENGLAND

24 (5)

Awer MABIL

Esjberg Fb, DENMARK

Riley McGREE

Adelaide United FC, AUSTRALIA

Matthew McKAY

Brisbane ROAR FC, AUSTRALIA

59 (2)

Mark MILLIGAN

Baniyas FC, UAE

53 (5)

Aaron MOOY

Huddersfield Town AFC, ENGLAND

21 (5)

Mathew RYAN

KRC Genk, BELGIUM

30 (0)

Trent SAINSBURY

FC Internazionale Milano, ITALY

21 (3)

Brad SMITH

AFC Bournemouth, ENGLAND

14 (0)

James TROISI

Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA

26 (4)

Daniel VUKOVIC

Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA

Rhys WILLIAMS

Perth Glory FC, AUSTRALIA

14 (0)

Bailey WRIGHT

Bristol City FC, ENGLAND

12 (1)