Meet the Resilient Defender and Big-Game Midfielder: An Analysis of the Socceroos’ New Additions

In an unexpected twist, Perth Glory striker Adam Taggart has been reinstated in place of veteran Mitchell Duke, while Melbourne City winger Marco Tilio, returning from injury, has been welcomed back due to his impressive recent performance.

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Yet, it was the introduction of three newcomers from the A-League that drew attention when Popovic unveiled his 26-man squad on Friday morning.

One notable inclusion is 31-year-old central defender Alex Grant, who recently signed with Sydney FC after being without a club since departing Chinese outfit Tianjin Jinmen.

Grant, who joined Sydney FC during the mid-season transfer window following Hayden Matthews’ move to Portsmouth and the injury to centre-back Alexandar Popovic, has integrated into Sydney’s defence with ease, despite limited playing time.

“I know Alex very well; he and I were both at Perth, and we left at the same time. He moved to Korea and then to China,” Popovic said at the press conference regarding his choice to give Grant a surprising call-up.

“He’s a tough defender, and I anticipate there might be a moment in these two matches that we’ll need him.

“True, he may not have enough games under his belt, but I have full confidence that if we need to start him or bring him on, he’ll deliver.”

Already aware of his first national team call-up, Grant delivered a commanding performance for Sydney FC on Thursday night, netting a vital goal that helped secure their aggregate lead over K League side Jeonbuk Motors, paving the way for their advancement to the ACL Two semi-finals.

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Despite limited game time in the last four months, Grant has certainly been kept busy since relocating to the Harbour City.

This has included a rigorous 120-minute match away in the sweltering heat of Thailand, followed by his debut in the Isuzu UTE A-League against Macarthur and two back-to-back fixtures against Jeonbuk, all helping him to regain match fitness.

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Competing with Grant for a potential debut in the Socceroos squad is Melbourne City defender Kai Trewin.

Receiving his first call-up after a standout season with City, Trewin has showcased remarkable versatility, being utilised as both a defensive midfielder and centre-back by head coach Aurelio Vidmar.

Aside from missing two matches through injury, Trewin has remained a constant presence for City, starting 18 times this season and contributing to the team boasting the best defensive record in the league, with only 18 goals conceded.

Melbourne Victory midfielder Ryan Teague is also vying for a spot, potentially playing in front of Grant or Trewin.

A youth international for Australia, Teague’s stellar performances for Victory this season have caught the eye, with reports indicating interest from countries such as Malaysia and China for his international allegiance.

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However, Popovic has acted swiftly to secure Teague’s first senior call-up for the vital qualifiers against Indonesia and China, refuting claims that his decision was influenced by competing nations.

“That will never influence my decision-making. If someone decides to represent another nation, that’s their prerogative, and we will respect it. No one will be selected because of potential interest from other countries.

“Ryan is chosen purely for his talent and the quality of his performances this year. I’ve had him on my radar since October and November, but I believe he has significantly improved in the past month.

“I trust that Ryan performs at his best during crucial games. He’s displaying the character and personality we want to see within the Socceroos.”

Now in his second season with Victory, Teague was brought on while Popovic was in charge, playing a key role in propelling the team to the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final.

This season, his performances have steadily improved, with the left-footed central midfielder starting all 20 league matches, contributing to Victory’s current position of fourth on the ladder as the season approaches its climax.