Socceroos Abroad: McGree on fire as Aussie action continues into weekend

With a host of exciting fixtures coming this weekend, here is the latest for Socceroos Abroad. 

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Starting with some midweek action in the EFL Championship, Riley McGree (cap #509) scored for Middlesbrough in a 1-1 draw with Leicester City on Wednesday morning. It was the midfielder’s fifth goal of the season. McGree could start on Tuesday morning against Birmingham City at 7:00 am (AEDT).

 

 

 

 

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At the same time, Cameron Burgess (cap #633) played all of Swansea City’s 1-1 draw with Preston North End. Burgess should start against his former team Ipswich Town on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT). The defender played four seasons at Ipswich, including the last campaign in the English Premier League.

Also on Wednesday, Nestory Irankunda (cap #643) played a full game for Watford in their 2-0 loss to Ipswich Town. The winger is likely to be in Watford’s squad when they travel to Bristol City on Saturday at 7:00 am (AEDT).

Adrian Segecic was subbed on in the 42nd minute of Portsmouth’s 2-1 loss to Wrexham. Portsmouth face Hull on Saturday night at 11:30 pm (AEDT). 

Concluding the Wednesday morning Championship action, Callum Elder (cap #614) played the first half of Derby County’s 4-2 loss to Hull City on Wednesday, scoring an own goal. Elder is likely to start in Derby’s home match against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday night at 11:30 pm (AEDT).

Mohamed Toure (cap #636) was subbed off after nine minutes due to injury in Norwich City’s 2-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday. The striker is a doubt for Norwich's match against Leicester City on Saturday at 11:30 pm (AEDT).

Joe Gauci (cap #631) put in an important display for Port Vale, keeping a clean sheet in their 1-0 win against Northampton Town on Wednesday morning in EFL League One. Gauci could be in goal when Port Vale host Luton Town on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT).

In EFL League One, Alex Robertson (cap #630) is likely to start in Cardiff City’s away trip to Doncaster Rovers at the same time.

Looking to the Scottish Premiership, Ryan Strain (cap #624) contributed to a clean sheet for Dundee United as they drew 0-0 with Aberdeen on Wednesday morning. The defender was subbed on in the 59th minute for United, while Nicolas Milanovic (cap #651) was on the bench for Aberdeen.

Dundee United travel to Motherwell on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT), while Aberdeen travel to Hearts simultaneously.

In weekend Scottish top-flight football, Martin Boyle (cap #599) and November window call-up Jack Iredale are set to be in Hibernian’s team on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT) against Dundee FC. Ryan McGowan (cap #546) should start for Livingston as they take on St Mirren at the same time.

In the CONCACAF Championship Cup, Patrick Yazbek (cap #641) was subbed on in the 78th minute of Nashville’s 5-0 win against Atletico Ottawa on Wednesday. The result sees the side through to the quarter-finals of the competition. Nashville will play their second game of the MLS season on Sunday at 12:30 pm (AEDT) when they travel to Dallas.

In other weekend MLS football, Kye Rowles (cap #622) is likely to start for DC United in their away trip to Austin FC on Monday at 6:30 am (AEDT), while Kai Trewin (cap #656) and Aiden O'Neill (cap #629) could start for New York City away to Philadelphia Union on Monday at 8:30 am (AEDT).

Shifting to Germany, Jackson Irvine’s (cap #568) St. Pauli travel to Hoffenheim on Sunday at 1:30 am (AEDT). A win for St. Pauli against the high-flying Hoffenheim could take them out of the relegation zone in the Bundesliga.

In La Liga, Maty Ryan (cap #555) is expected to be in goal for Levante as they take on Deportivo Alaves on Saturday at 7:00 am (AEDT).

In Serie A, Alessandro Circati (cap #637) should return to the starting line-up to face Cagliari after serving a one-match susupension due to yellow card accumulation on Saturday morning at 6:45 am AEDT. The 22-year-old has been a resolute mainstay in the heart of the defence for the Crociati, who lie in 12th place on the table with 32 points - three points ahead and one spot above the Sardinians.

In Denmark, Paul Izzo (cap #650) is likely to be in goal for Randers’ final Superligaen game of the regular season on Monday at 3:00 am (AEDT).

In the Eredivisie, Jordy Bos (cap #632) and his Feyenoord travel away match to Twente on Monday at 12:30 am (AEDT).

Ajdin Hrustic (cap #589) should be in Heracles squad as they welcome league leaders PSV Eindhoven on Sunday at 4:45 am (AEDT).

Continuing in the Netherlands top flight, Max Balard (cap #652) is expected to start for NAC Breda when they travel to Telstar on Saturday at 6:00 am (AEDT).

Moving to Croatia, Fran Karacic (cap #607) is set to be in the starting lineup for Osijek for their home match against Vukovar 91 on Sunday at 1:00 am (AEDT).

Over in Cyprus, Milos Degenek (cap #585) is expected to start for APOEL Nicosia for their away match against AEL Limassol on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEDT).

 

 

 

 

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Gianni Stensness (cap #617) is likely to start to Monday at 2:00 am (AEDT) as Viking host Sarpsborg in the team’s final friendly before Norway’s Eliteserien gets back underway.

In Czech First League, Garang Kuol (cap #627) could get more minutes for Sparta Prague for their home match against Banik Ostrava.

In EFL League Two, Gethin Jones (cap #639) could start for MK Dons when they face Cambridge United on Saturday at 11:30 pm (AEDT).

Moving back to the Netherlands, Josh Nisbet (#642) is likely to start for Roda JC Kerkrade in their away game against Den Bosch on Saturday morning at 6:00 am (AEDT).

In Spain's second tier, Awer Mabil (cap #597) should be in Castellon’s squad for their home game against Racing Santander on Sunday at 7:00 am (AEDT).

Looking to Japan, Jason Geria (cap #586) will look to build on his goal last weekend when Albirex Niigata take on Imabari on Saturday at 4:00 pm (AEDT) in the J2/J3 100 Year Vision League tournament.

In J1 100 Year Vision League, Kusini Yengi (cap #638) will target more minutes for Cerezo Osaka away to V-Varen Nagasaki on Saturday at 7:00 pm (AEDT).

Bailey Wright (cap #576) could start for Lion City Sailors for their away game against Albirex Niigata on Saturday at 11:30 pm (AEDT) in the Singapore Premier League.

Connor Pain (cap #565) notched an assist in Al Bukayriyah’s 1-1 draw with Al-Jandal in Saudi Arabia. The winger might start on Monday at 5:45 am (AEDT) when Al Bukayriyah take on Al-Jubail