Socceroos midfielder Riley McGree has been ruled out of the World Cup with a hamstring injury, becoming the fourth player to miss the tournament for Australia.
With the Socceroos taking part in a pre-tournament training camp in Florida, McGree was ruled out by the team after he left the field in the 76th minute of Middlesbrough’s playoff final loss to Hull at Wembley Stadium on the weekend.
McGree suffered a double blow as he was supposed to be in camp with the national team if not for Southampton being booted from the playoffs over the “Spygate” scandal.
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He now misses the World Cup and promotion to the Premier League.
The attacking midfielder was viewed as a crucial creative link for Australia’s World Cup team and, if fit, would have almost certainly started the opener against Turkey in Vancouver on June 13, having started in all four games in Qatar four years ago.
McGree was pivotal in helping Australia reach this year’s World Cup, with a goal assist to Aziz Behich in the win over Japan, which sealed qualification last June.
Riley McGree started all four games in Qatar. Getty
The Middlesbrough star joins Hayden Matthews, Nick D’Agostino and Patrick Yazbek as the unavailable players for the tournament.
Yazbek suffered a quad injury playing for American club Nashville earlier this month, while Matthews suffered injury issues in camp and was ruled out of selection.
The Socceroos play a friendly against tournament co-hosts Mexico in Los Angeles on May 30, which is viewed as the final selection trial to make the squad.
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic names his final 26-player squad on June 1.
The Middlesbrough star was solid in the Championship this season. PA Images via Getty Images