David Carney is facing a disrupted pre-season for Sheffield United after playing in a jam-packed programme of World Cup qualifiers for Australia in June.
Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek today confirmed that the expected absence of several big name players, due to a baby boom amongst players' wives, is likely to open the door for the rest of the Socceroos European contingent to be called up.
Twenty-four-year-old Carney has only won eight international caps for Australia but established himself as one of the first names on Verbeek's teamsheet-at right wing-back or right midfield-after impressing the previous Socceroos coach Graham Arnold during the Asian Cup in the searing heat of Singapore and Thai land last summer And Carney's 21 appearances for 'The Blades' in his debut Championship season have not gone unnoticed on Verbeek, who has made his preference for European based Australian players over their A-League counterparts an open secret. "It's tricky," Verbeek said.
What do you think? Post your comments below."We have four players at the moment (whose) wives or girlfriends are pregnant and the babies are all coming in June so I have to be prepared for letting players go. It's not easy, I think we need a big squad to take no risk at all."
The Socceroos' final four World Cup qualifiers are home to Iraq on June 2, away to Iraq on June 7, away to Qatar on June 14 and home to China on June 21.
Carney is also expected to be named in the Socceroos starting line-up for their home friendly against Ghana in Sydney on May 23.
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