Socceroos call up Rams midfielder

Socceroos call up Rams midfielder

Rams Mile Sterjovski has been named in Australia’s provisional squad for a World Cup qualifier in China in Kunming on March 26.

The Australian has started the last two Rams games and is settling well into Premiership football. The match falls between two of the Rams Premier League fixtures, the game at Middlesbrough on March 22 and the home clash with Fulham a week later.

“We have placed a large group of players on notice that they could be called up for the match,” said Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek.

“With the short time difference between playing for the clubs in Europe and the match, we need to have options open for us if players become unavailable due to injury.”

Several Barclays Premier League players could be involved in a club-versus-country row after Australia named them in a provisional squad.

Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, Blackburn’s Brett Emerton, Harry Kewell (Liverpool), West Ham’s Lucas Neill, Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, Reading’s Adam Federici and James Troisi (Newcastle) have all been named by coach Verbeek.

Celtic’s Scott McDonald and Championship players Nick Carle (Bristol City), David Carney (Sheffield United) and Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester) are also in the 21-man squad for the game.