McDonald misses out, Pim weighs options

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has left Celtic striker Scott McDonald out of his squad
to face Oman and hinted the door is open for an A-League bolter to take his place at
next year's World Cup.
McDonald was a notable omission from the squad named on Wednesday for the November
14 Asian Cup qualifier in Muscat.
But unlike midfielder Vince Grella, who is still hampered by a thigh problem,
McDonald's omission was not injury-related with Verbeek saying he had "enough
strikers" in the squad.
First-choice frontman Josh Kennedy is in doubt for the match with a back injury but
even if he is ruled out Verbeek hinted he could overlook McDonald, possibly in
favour of one several form strikers in the A-League.
"Scott is a different type (of player) than Josh, we don't have the same Josh,"
Verbeek said.
"I have to make up my mind what I'm going to do.
"We have different kinds of players available but we all know that Archie (Thompson)
is doing very well, Alex Brosque is doing very well and I'm happy to see and hear
that Mark Bridge is doing what he promised to do two years ago.
"(Nikita) Rukavytsya is doing well also in the Netherlands so we have some options.
It's getting better and better for the coaching staff to be honest."
Verbeek has continued to show faith in McDonald since his appointment, despite him
being unable to replicate his prolific scoring form for Celtic in the green and
gold.
And while it looked McDonald was close to a certainly to make the squad for South
Africa, Verbeek says Australia's striking ranks are anything but finalised.
"There's a lot of competition," Verbeek said.
"Players like Brosque and I saw Joel Porter too ... We have some strikers in the
A-League at the moment who are doing well.
"We are very curious what they are going to do in the upcoming months."
Australia's final two Asian Cup qualifiers early next year do not fall on FIFA match
dates, which could provide an opportunity for A-League players to stake their claim
for a World Cup berth with Verbeek unlikely to be able to call on most of his
European-based players.
A win against Oman would move Australia to the brink of qualification for the 2011
tournament in Qatar with Verbeek naming a virtually full strength team as he did in
the 1-0 win over Oman in Melbourne last month.
Captain Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill, Brett Emerton, Mark Schwarzer and Harry Kewell were
all named, while Mark Bresciano was recalled after missing the last two matches with
a knee injury.
Genclerbirligi striker Bruce Djite also earned a recall as did Perth Glory winger
Mile Sterjovski to become one of three A-League players in the squad alongside
regulars Jason Culina and Craig Moore.
Verbeek played down concerns about Gold Coast star Culina's recent dip in form,
which has coincided with his team relinquishing the competition lead.
"Jason has played better in his life than he has the last weeks but I've spoken with
him, he knows that also," Verbeek said.
"We dont have to worry about that, still he's a very good player."