World Cup hopeful Garang Kuol has been selected in the Young Socceroos squad bidding to qualify for next year’s Under-20 Asian Cup.
With the qualifiers beginning in Kuwait in Saturday morning (AEDT), teenage sensation Kuol – who will leave the Central Coast Mariners in January to join English Premier League club Newcastle – will have no more chances at A-League level to impress Graham Arnold before the Socceroos coach names his 55-man preliminary World Cup squad next week.
Kuol, who made his Socceroos debut last month, was also inactive on the opening weekend of the new A-League season after the Mariners’ clash with Newcastle was called off due to a waterlogged Central Coast Stadium pitch.
Young Socceroos coach Trevor Morgan said: We are very thankful for the support of clubs, both in Australia and abroad, for their ongoing support of Australia’s national youth team programs and in doing so, allowing us to field the best teams possible and enabling their players to showcase their talent on the international stage.”
The Young Socceroos meet India, Iraq and Kuwait in their qualifying group, with only the top team guaranteed a spot at next year’s Under-20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan.