Midfielder Aaron Mooy has been sent back to Celtic by Australia boss Graham Arnold and will miss the final World Cup warm-up game with New Zealand.
The 32-year-old played the full 90 minutes for the Socceroos on Thursday as they secured a narrow 1-0 win over the All Whites on, but is now among a host of Australia internationals returning to their club side before the return fixture in Auckland. Mooy has ramped up his game-time in recent weeks at Celtic having been handed a start in the disappointing 2-0 defeat to St Mirren before the international break, but won't get any more minutes before the Scottish Premiership league campaign resumes against Motherwell next Saturday.
Reports in Australia suggest that Arnold has sent home players who he already views as certainties to be on the plane for the World Cup. Dundee United's Aziz Behich, former Hibs pair Jackson Irvine and Jamie Maclaren, Matty Ryan, Trent Sainsbury, Ajdin Hrustic, Fran Karacic, Awer Mabil and Adam Taggart have all returned to their clubs.
Hibs star Martin Boyle and Hearts stopper Nathaniel Atkinson remain on international duty as Arnold shuffles his pack. The Aussies are facing off against the Kiwis as part of their celebrations on the 100th anniversary of the national team's first game.
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