Firing Jason Cummings has been told he's in with a chance of a dream World Cup appearance by Australia boss Graham Arnold.
The Socceroos qualified for the Qatar showpiece last month when they edged past Peru on penalties and now the jostling begins for places in the squad. Cummings, previously capped by Scotland but only in friendlies, has switched allegiances after reviving his career with Central Coast Mariners, and is desperate to be involved.
The former Hibs and Rangers striker was left out of the squad that qualified for the tournament despite firing ten goals in 21 A-League games last season. However boss Arnold says his dream is still very much alive - but he'll need to earn it in the four months before the World Cup kicks off. He said: "The schedule is going to give an A-League player probably eight rounds before we go to the World Cup because you only have to announce the squad two weeks before the first game in Qatar so every player has an opportunity.
"I'll be watching every game like I do every weekend and every Tuesday, and Wednesday, I sit in front of a computer and watch all the boys playing from overseas. The best players get picked. And some players who started doing well towards the back end of the season, like Jason Cummings will be looked at for sure.
"After the game against Peru, I said to the boys that there's no guarantees who is going to the World Cup. It's all about how you do back at your clubs. It's just about over the next four months, that they work their backsides off and make sure that they're ready, physically and mentally and technically.
"I don't want any player walking around thinking that they own that shirt. It is only loaned to them for one game at a time, then it's up to them to keep earning it."
And Arnold is looking forward to the return of Scottish-born Harry Souttar, with the Stoke City defender set to return from an ACL injury last November He said: "He's got to get back to his best and get back playing at Stoke and performing the way he did before he copped the injury. If Harry's in that type of form, he's invaluable to us."
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