Australia’s pointless friendly with Oman has claimed it’s first victim with Martin Boyle sent back to Hibs for treatment on a knee injury- ruling him out of the entire tournament.
Socceroos boss Graham Arnold insisted that all of his players were released by their clubs to face Oman meaning that Boyle missed out on the Edinburgh derby.
??| Martin Boyle picked up a knee injury late on in Australia’s Asian Cup warm-up victory over Oman on Sunday and will return to Scotland for treatment immediately. An update will follow when he has been fully assessed.
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— Hibernian FC (@HibernianFC) January 1, 2019
Australia won the warm-up 5-0 but are paying the price with the relationships with Celtic and Hibs already strained after Arnold insisted on three Hibs players and Tom Rogic flying in for the Oman match which has was then rested from.
The Socceroos open their Asian Cup campaign on January 6 against Jordan which is followed by further matches against Palestine and Syria. The top two teams and four of the third placed sides will then go forward to the last 16 knock-out which begins on January 20.
Celtic had requested that Rogic stayed on for an extra two days to play in the Glasgow derby but that plea cut no ice with Arnold.
