Jason Cummings to miss Australia’s match against Argentina

Cummings, who scored a hat-trick in the Central Coast Mariners’ 6-1 weekend thrashing of Melbourne City, is among a host of players from Australia’s 2022 World Cup squad who won’t go to China for next Thursday’s game due to injury.

The others include Aziz Behich, Milos Degenek, Craig Goodwin, Jackson Irvine, Aaron Mooy and Bailey Wright.

Attacking pair Marco Tilio and Garang Kuol are also missing from the squad due to them being on Olyroos duty in Scotland

Called into the Socceroos squad for the first time are 19-year-old Parma defender Alessandro Circati, who has declared his international allegiance to Australia, and Melbourne City goalkeeper Thomas Glover.

“There is no better test than playing the current world champions in Argentina straight after a World Cup, which reflects how highly regarded Australian football teams are amongst the leading nations,” Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said.

“Irrespective of who we played during June, I have made no secret that this window would provide a glimpse into the future, where we were always going to reward players who have had strong seasons at club level to show what they can do on the international stage.

“With the benefit of having five friendlies before our 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign starts this November, we need to use every one of these matches to prepare as best we can, as well as having one eye on January’s Asian Cup.”

Socceroos squad: Nathaniel ATKINSON, Keanu BACCUS, Brandon BORRELLO, Jordan BOS, Alessandro CIRCATI, Cameron DEVLIN, Mitchell DUKE, Joe GAUCI, Denis GENREAU, Thomas GLOVER, Ajdin HRUSTIC, Joel KING, Mathew LECKIE, JAMIE MACLAREN, Riley McGREE, Connor METCALFE, Aiden O’NEILL, Alexander ROBERTSON. Kye ROWLES, Mathew RYAN. Gianni STENSNESS, Harry SOUTTAR, Ryan STRAIN

Originally published as A-League grand final hero Jason Cummings to miss Socceroos’ battle with Argentina