Blues midfielder Massimo Luongo has come out of international retirement and is named alongside Cameron Burgess in the Australia squad for their October internationals.
Luongo, 32, announced in December 2023 that he was hanging up his international boots after 45 caps and six goals.
But new Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, who took charge just over a week ago following Graham Arnold’s resignation, says Sydney-born Luongo made the national association aware he was up for selection once again.
"He’s made himself available and he became an option for us, and I wanted to bring him into this camp,” Popovic said.
"If we have to sell the Socceroos jersey, we have a problem. There is no sales pitch. If a player makes himself available for selection,and if he’s chosen, that should be enough.
"I’ll be worried if I have to sell to a player a reason to play for Socceroos. I’ll never do it. If you’re selected, you should be honoured. If that’s an issue for any player, I’d advise them not to make themselves available.”
Australia have made a disastrous start to the third round of AFC World Cup qualifying, losing 1-0 at home to Bahrain and drawing 0-0 in Indonesia last month, and are currently fifth in their group. The top two go through to the finals and the teams third and fourth to another stage of qualification.
The Socceroos face winless China in Adelaide on Thursday 10th October, then group leaders Japan in Saitama on Tuesday 15th October.
Blues centre-half Burgess has previously 10 full caps and was a regular member of the squad under previous boss Arnold.
Australia: Daniel Arzani (Melbourne Victory), Keanu Baccus (Mansfield Town), Aziz Behich (Melbourne City), Jordan Bos (Westerlo), Cameron Burgess (Ipswich Town), Thomas Deng (Albirex Niigata), Mitchell Duke (Machida Zelvia), Joe Gauci (Aston Villa), Jason Geria (Melbourne Victory), Craig Goodwin (Al Wehda), Ajdin Hrustic (Salernitana 1919), Nestory Irankunda (Bayern Munich), Jackson Irvine (St Pauli), Paul Izzo (Randers), Massimo Luongo (Ipswich Town), Riley McGree (Middlesbrough), Connor Metcalfe (St Pauli), Lewis Miller (Hibernian), Aiden O'Neill (Standard Liege), Kye Rowles (Hearts), Mathew Ryan (AS Roma), Samuel Silvera (Portsmouth), Harry Souttar (Sheffield United), Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (Motherwell), Gianni Stensness (Viking FK), Nishan Velupillay (Melbourne Victory).