Arzani set for Socceroos recall, as wonderkid braces for debut

Graham Arnold is set to bring Daniel Arzani in from the international wilderness, putting the Melbourne Victory winger in the frame to win his first Australia cap in almost six years.

Arzani is expected to be named in Arnold’s Socceroos squad on Wednesday for June’s World Cup qualifiers alongside uncapped winger Nestor Irankunda.

The 18-year-old Irankunda raised eyebrows last week by hinting he could switch allegiance to Burundi or Tanzania.

But despite his public comments it is understood he had always been on Arnold’s radar for games against Bangladesh in Dhaka on June 6 and Palestine in Perth on June 11.

It is anticipated that goalkeeper and captain Mat Ryan will sit out June’s window after a gruelling 18 months across club and international commitments, with 23-year-old Joe Gauci due to fill the void.

Ryan has yet to settle on his club future heading into next year as he comes off contract with Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.

Arnold’s squad is relatively settled for June’s two games, which are effectively dead rubbers.

The Australians have already reached the final stage of qualification for the 2026 World Cup tournament, but big wins in both games can strengthen their hope of being handed a favourable draw by leapfrogging South Korea in FIFA’s world rankings.

It’s why Arnold is set to largely stick solid with the core group that made up March’s squad window against Lebanon.

The Socceroos boss, however, will be without several key attacking outlets, including Riley McGree, Craig Goodwin and Brandon Borrello, their absences paving the way for Arzani to return to the fold.

Now 25, Arzani lit up the 2018 World Cup in Russia for the Socceroos, but has scarcely been sighted since.

An ACL injury during his time in Europe led to him falling out of favour, before he returned to the A-League Men with Macarthur last season.

Since then the six-cap international has moved to Melbourne Victory, thriving under the guidance of Tony Popovic.

Arzani has enjoyed one of his strongest seasons to date and appeared destined to win the Joe Marston Medal in Saturday’s grand final, before the Central Coast Mariners sent the game into extra-time at the death and clinched the title.

The winger, who last won a Socceroos cap in a 2018 friendly against Kuwait, finished Victory’s ALM campaign having scored four goals and delivering six assists across 31 games.

Arnold’s charges will head into camp in Thailand this week before next week’s game against Bangladesh.