International

Rogic’s World Cup place in the balance

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Tom Rogic newsTom Rogic’s World Cup place is in doubt after picking up another injury in a friendly match against Brazilian club sideĀ Clube Parana.

The Celtic midielder suffered two first half injuries before being replaced a half-time.

The Socceoos have still to name their final squad with fears growing that Rogic could be one of the four players axed when coachĀ Ange Postecoglou Ā names his 23 man squad for the finals.

After the set-back Postecoglou’s assistantĀ Aurelio Vidmar said: “

“He hasnā€™t played in quite a while so youā€™ve got to remember most of these guys havenā€™t played for quite a while and theyā€™ve had a pretty heavy load over the last three weeks.Tommy was in the camp in the beginning of May in Adelaide, so heā€™s had some extra work as well, he just needs to find a little bit of rhythm.

ā€œAs I said it was pretty hard out there, tough conditions. It was an important hit-out for everyone. He was probably frustrated because he didnā€™t get too much of the ball and they closed him pretty sharply today so youā€™ve got to try and find your rhythm and when youā€™re not in match rhythm itā€™s a bit difficult but he put himself out there and tried to do his best.

”For me heā€™s certainly a very special player, heā€™s young, heā€™s got a lot to learn but heā€™s one of those that, in a second, can turn a game for you. So all of those considerations will be up for debate tonight.(when the team management decides which four players to cull).

ā€œHeā€™s got a level head on his shoulders so thereā€™s been a lot of talk over the last year or two that heā€™s the nest massive player coming out of Australia but heā€™s still got a lot of work to do. Heā€™s young, he knows what his capabilities are, heā€™s a very good player and the more game time he has the better heā€™ll become.

ā€œWeā€™ve seen a massive improvement from the early days when he was at Central Coast to where he is now so thereā€™s no doubt that the more games he plays the better and stronger he will become and the more influential he will be for our team.”

Speaking before he match against Clube Parana, Rogic said: “Iā€™m not the first person to have an injury to deal with so you just cop it on the chin and do your best to manage it and overcome it.

“Iā€™m doing everything I can everyday to do that, and I feel as long as I keep working hard Iā€™m headed in the right direction but itā€™s been frustrating at times.

“Iā€™ve missed two sessions in the four weeks of the camp since it started in Adelaide. So Iā€™m happy with how itā€™s going, itā€™s just a bit of management with my load which is the same with a few people. Itā€™s just the way it is.

“Of course (Iā€™m confident of playing a part), thatā€™s why Iā€™m here. Every player wants to play a part but itā€™s not up to me, the decision comes down to Ange so weā€™ll wait and see what the plans are.ā€™”

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