During an interview with ABC’s Offsiders, Australia national head coach Ange Postecoglou said there would be a chance for captain Mile Jedinak at the World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Thailand if he got through club duty this week.
“He’s an important part of what we’ve been building and what people don’t know is he’s been playing hurt for probably the last 12 to 18 months for us,” Postecoglou said.
“[He] always puts his hand up. If he gets through 90 minutes, he’ll be there for sure.”
Jedinak has been in doubt for national duty after being ruled out of the Socceroos’ Confederations Cup campaign in June after undergoing surgery on his groin.
Despite being expected to recover well this week, he was absent in Aston Villa’s squad at the Championship 4-2 win over Norwich City on Saturday.
However, the 33-year-old has been named in initial Socceroos squad for key World Cup qualifiers that will determine Australia’s World Cup destiny.