Mohamed Toure injury news: Socceroos striker ahead of World Cup

OAKLAND, CA — Mohamed Toure was not sighted at Socceroos training three days out from Australia’s World Cup opener against Turkiye but veteran defender Milos Degenek told media after training that “we’ll see Mo train tomorrow” as speculation mounted that the striker has suffered an injury on the eve of the tournament.

The striker, who is an automatic starter for the side up front, was the only member of the squad absent from Wednesday’s session in Oakland (Thursday AEST).

Degenek flat batted questions about Toure’s injury before his press conference even started.

“So Mo’s expected to train tomorrow. There you go,” he said.

“Answered that before you asked it. Let’s do it.”

When asked why he didn’t train he added: “I didn’t notice he wasn’t out there because a lot of the session was separate parts, attack, defence.

“But you’ll see him tomorrow. And I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to speak to you guys.”

Of the players Australia would not want to have absent from the XI, Toure would be one of the top of the list, with the 22-year-old coming into the tournament off the back of a brilliant season in the Championship with Norwich and a weapon in transition that is crucial to Tony Popovic’s set-up.

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Team medical boss Dr Mark Jones was spotted talking to coach Popovic and assistant Hayden Foxe prior to training, where the media is allowed to watch the first 15 minutes.

“No, I actually don’t (know), it was during training I noticed he wasn’t in there,” said Jordan Bos, another player indispensable in the XI, who addressed the media after training.

“I don’t know why he wasn’t (there).”

He continued: “He’s a big asset to us, been doing really well for his new club, scoring goals, his power and everything about him – great asset for us.”

Popovic has already lost first XI locks Riley McGree and Lewis Miller over the course of the last six months, so will be sweating on Toure’s availability.

“We have other players as well that can play striker, but to have Mo is really nice for us,” Bos added.

The most obvious alternative is Tete Yengi, who scored on his debut against Switzerland on the weekend, but offers a different style of striker to the speedy, electric Toure, while Mathew Leckie and Nestory Irankunda are other players Popovic has mentioned as options in a central role. Irankunda was used there during the March window.

Nestory Irankunda and Mohamed Toure get to work.

Irankunda was deployed up top in the March FIFA Series in Toure’s absence, while Popovic has praised Leckie’s versatility as well.

Speaking during March, where he came on against Cameroon and Curacao in a central role as part of Popovic’s World Cup planning, Irankunda explained: “I’ve played up front with Watford for a bit the last few months… it was a bit different being the lone striker but wherever the boss wants me to play, I’m going to play there.

“Yeah, I feel like I can do it. Obviously Mo (Toure) is out, and there’s no real option, so… it just felt good to be able to get minutes out there today and play in front of a huge crowd.”

He added: “I’m not a huge fan of running in behind … obviously I’ve got the speed to run in behind. So I have to use my pace a lot more.

“I feel like I haven’t really done that in the last few seasons I’ve played as a professional. And to go out there today and be able to do it was really exciting for me.”

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As for Leckie, Popovic said after the squad was finally selected: “I think the luxury of Mathew Leckie is that he can play anywhere. He has the experience and maturity that you don’t need a week or two of training in a position with him. You can basically show him a video and he would know what to do.

“That’s a luxury of having someone with his quality. Last time was the first time he played as a 10 with us, but so he knows the position. It was tough in the first half, but not just for him personally. I think it was just tough in terms of us retaining the ball, but you know, he was part of the first 20 minutes in the second half that was really strong.

“So it was pleasing that he could have a 15 minute break, cool down and then actually pick up and do much better in the second half…That’s I think more the quality and experience of not being overawed or flustered by a poor first half, that he can turn the switch and go again and do better. So we need that experience wherever that is on the field, I’m sure he’ll make an impact, regardless of where it is.

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