As the March international break approaches, Riley McGree’s Middlesbrough face a crucial run in the race for automatic promotion in the Championship, while several Socceroos in MLS set for another busy weekend.
Read on to catch up on what happened during the week and what’s still to come for our Socceroos Abroad.
CommBank Socceroos
Starting with midweek Championship action, Riley McGree (cap #609) played 75 minutes for Middlesbrough in a 1–0 loss to Charlton on Thursday.
The result leaves Boro eight points behind league leaders Coventry and one ahead of a charging Millwall in third place. It is nine years since Boro were in the top flight and they now face a massive last nine games in a tussle for a priceless top-two finish.
Boro return to the Riverside Stadium on Saturday at 11:30pm (AEDT) to face Bristol City.
Nestory Irankunda (cap #643) played 84 minutes for Watford in a 1–1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday. The Hornets next take on Stoke City on Sunday at 2am (AEDT).
Watford will then meet Adrian Segecic’s Portsmouth on Tuesday at 7am (AEDT), with Callum Elder (cap #614) ruled out for Derby County due to a knee injury which required surgery, with the Rams head coach John Eustace confirming he will miss up to six weeks.
Cameron Burgess (cap #633) played a full game for Swansea City in their 2–1 win over Portsmouth on Wednesday, while Segecic came off the bench in the 76th minute and Hayden Matthews (cap #648) returned to the matchday squad. Swansea are next in action in a Welsh derby against Wrexham on Saturday at 7am (AEDT).
In EFL League One, Alex Robertson (cap #630) played 69 minutes for Cardiff City in a 1–1 draw with Barnsley on Wednesday. The league leaders next face Exeter City FC on Sunday at 2am (AEDT).
In FA Cup action, Joe Gauci (cap #631) started in goal for Port Vale on Thursday in a 2–0 loss to Bradford City AFC. Vale return to league action on Sunday at 2am (AEDT) against Huddersfield Town AFC.
In League Two, Gethin Jones (cap #639) played the full match and scored for MK Dons in a 5–1 win over Gillingham FC on Wednesday. MK Dons face Swindon Town FC on Sunday at 2am (AEDT).
In the Eredivisie, Jordan Bos (cap #632) is set to feature for Feyenoord when they host Excelsior Rotterdam on Monday at 12:30am (AEDT).
Bos comes into the clash in strong form after recording another assist over the weekend as Feyenoord drew 3–3 away to NAC Breda, with the 23-year-old playing the full match.
The Socceroo is enjoying a productive season in the Dutch top flight, registering three goals and seven assists across 21 league appearances (17 starts), while averaging 69 minutes per game.
Max Balard's (cap #652) NAC Breda travel to Go Ahead Eagles on Monday at 2:45am (AEDT) as they look to collect crucial points in their bid to move out of the relegation zone.
Elsewhere in the league, Ajdin Hrustic's (cap #589) Heracles Almelo face a tough trip to AZ Alkmaar on Monday at 12:30am (AEDT) as they aim to climb off the foot of the table.
In Italy's Serie A, Alessandro Circati (cap #637) is likely to feature again for Parma when they travel to Torino FC on Saturday at 6:45am (AEDT).
In Spain, Maty Ryan (cap #555) is set to start in goal for Levante when they travel Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday at 7am (AEDT), with the club sitting four points adrift of safety as they look to close the gap on the teams above them.
In Germany's Bundesliga, Jackson Irvine (cap #568) and Connor Metcalfe (cap #611) could feature for St Pauli when they travel to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday at 6:30am (AEDT).
To the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16, Patrick Yazbek (cap #641) played the full game for Nashville on Thursday in a 0-0 draw with Inter Miami. They return to MLS action on Sunday at 9:15am (AEDT) against Columbus Crew.
Nashville have made a steady start to the MLS campaign while also balancing their continental commitments after qualifying for the competition as U.S. Open Cup winners last season. They return to MLS action on Sunday at 9:15am (AEDT) against Columbus Crew.
Kye Rowles (cap #622) is also likely to appear for DC United when they face Chicago Fire FC on Sunday at 11:30am (AEDT).
DC United opened their MLS season with a 1–0 win over Philadelphia Union, with Rowles playing the full match in the clean sheet, but have since lost their following two matches as they look to bounce back this weekend.
Kai Trewin (cap #656) and Aiden O'Neill's (cap #629) New York City also host Colorado Rapids on Sunday at 10:30am (AEDT).
NYCFC have enjoyed an undefeated start to the season with two wins and one draw as they look to continue building momentum and hold top spot in the MLS Eastern Conference.
In Denmark, Paul Izzo (cap #650) should feature for Randers FC when they face FC Fredericia on Saturday at 5am (AEDT).
In the Cypriot First Division, Milos Degenek (cap #585) should feature again for APOEL FC when they travel to Aris Limassol FC on Monday at 4am (AEDT).
In Croatia, Fran Karacic (cap #607) should feature again for NK Osijek on Sunday at 1am (AEDT) against HNK Gorica.
Elsewhere in Croatia, Anthony Kalik could appear for Hajduk Split on Monday at 1am (AEDT) against NK Lokomotiva.
In Scotland, Martin Boyle (cap #599) and Jack Iredale should appear for Hibernian on Sunday at 2am (AEDT) against Ryan McGowan's (cap #546) Livingston.
Nicolas Milanovic (cap #651) could feature when Aberdeen return to action on Sunday at 2am (AEDT) against Falkirk FC in the Scottish Premiership.
Keanu Baccus (cap #628) could appear for St. Mirren on Sunday at 11pm (AEDT) against Rangers FC.
Ryan Strain (cap #624) could return to the squad when Dundee United face Dundee on Monday at 1am (AEDT).
Moving back to the Netherlands, Josh Nisbet (#642) should feature again for Roda JC Kerkrade when they face SC Cambuur on Saturday at 6am (AEDT).
In Spain's second tier, Awer Mabil (cap #597) could feature for Castellón when they travel to Sporting de Gijón on Monday at 7am (AEDT).
In the Europe Conference League Round of 16 first leg, Garang Kuol (cap #627) started and played 47 minutes for Sparta Prague on Friday in a 2-1 loss to AZ Alkmaar.
They return to the Czech First League on Monday at 4:30am (AEDT) against 1. FC Slovácko.
In the Austrian Bundesliga, Jacob Italiano (cap #653) is likely to appear again for Grazer AK on Sunday at 3am (AEDT) against Wolfsberger AC.
In the Norwegian Eliteserien, Gianni Stensness (cap #617) could feature for Viking when they face Hamarkameratene on Sunday at 1am (AEDT).
In the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tomi Juric (cap #561) could feature again for HŠK Zrinjski Mostar when they face HŠK Posušje on Sunday at 3am (AEDT).
In the J2 League, Jason Geria (cap #586) should feature again for Albirex Niigata against Nara Club on Saturday at 4pm (AEDT).
In the K2 League, John Iredale (cap #640) could feature for Seoul E-Land FC when they face Seoul E-Land FC on Saturday at 4pm (AEDT).
In Singapore, Bailey Wright (cap #576) could start on Saturday for Lion City Sailors against Balestier Khalsa FC at 11:30pm (AEDT).
Curtis Good (cap #569) and Kenny Dougall (cap #608) are also likely to appear for Buriram United in Thailand when they face Chonburi FC at 10pm (AEDT) on Saturday.
Good played the full game in the AFC Champions League penalty shootout victory over Melbourne City on Tuesday. Dougall also came off the bench in the 25th minute and scored a penalty in the shootout after the match finished 0-0 and 1-1 on aggregate.
In India, Jamie Maclaren (cap #584) could feature alongside Dimitri Petratos (cap #593) and Jason Cummings (cap #626) for Mohun Bagan against Bengaluru FC on Sunday at 1am (AEDT).
CommBank Olyroos
In League One, Raphael Borges Rodrigues should appear for Wigan Athletic on Sunday at 2am (AEDT) against Bradford City AFC.
Borges Rodrigues came off the bench in the 83rd minute in a 0-0 draw with Plymouth Argyle F.C. on Wednesday.