Blues midfielder Massimo Luongo has been ruled out of Australia’s internationals due to injury.
The 32-year-old was a surprise inclusion in the squad alongside teammate Cameron Burgess which was announced on Friday, the Sydney-born schemer coming out of international retirement after just under a year.
Luongo, who has won 45 caps and scored six international goals, wasn’t on the bench for the Blues yesterday at West Ham and the Socceroos have now announced his withdrawal from the squad due to an ankle problem.
Australia face China in Adelaide on Thursday, then group leaders Japan in Saitama on the following Tuesday.
Town have now had three players pull out of international squads due to injury, Axel Tuanzebe is out of the DR Congo party with a hand problem which has required surgery and Ali Al-Hamadi has been withdrawn from Iraq’s squad.