MELBOURNE, Australia -- Captain Mile Jedinak has been left out of Australia's squad for its Oct. 8 World Cup qualifier against Jordan, but Trent Sainsbury, James Troisi and Tomi Juric have returned from injury to be included on the team.
"It is a sign of the depth we are creating that we bring these three guys back into the squad for the Jordan game ... all three played a major part in our Asian Cup success and after finding fitness and regular club football they are ready to come back in," Australia coach Ange Postecoglou said on Wednesday.
"We are slowly building a squad with alternatives and depth and when we add these three guys to the squad that did very well and won both games in the September window we are building nicely.
"We have said all along that we will need a pool deeper than 23 players throughout the World Cup Qualifiers as we strive to make an impact leading into the next World Cup in Russia."
Jedinak, a Crystal Palace midfielder, meanwhile, has a slight hamstring concern and Postecoglou decided to err on the side of caution with his captain.
At a stretch he might have made this camp, but because he's had that setback maybe coming back too early, I think it's wise for us to make sure Mile's 100 percent and right for the November games," Postecoglou said.
Australia, with three consecutive wins, leads Group B in Asian qualifying with nine points, two ahead of Jordan.
Australia squad: Luke Brattan, Nathan Burns, Tim Cahill, Alex Cisak, Jason Davidson, Tarek Elrich, Adam Federici, Eugene Galekovic, Tomi Juric, Mathew Leckie, Massimo Luongo, Ryan McGowan, Matt McKay, James Meredith, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Tommy Oar, Tom Rogic, Trent Sainsbury, Matt Spiranovic, James Troisi, Alex Wilkinson, Bailey Wright