Soccer-Captain Jedinak named for Australia's crunch qualifiers

Australia captain Mile Jedinak has been named in a preliminary 30-man squad for the crunch World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Thailand as he battles to recover from a groin injury.

The defensive midfielder was forced to miss the Confederations Cup in Russia after aggravating a groin injury and is yet to resume club duties with Aston Villa in the English Premier League.

Defender Brad Smith, who also missed the Confederations Cup, was also returned to the Ange Postecoglou's squad for the Aug. 31 match away to Japan and the final clash at home to Thailand.

The squad will be trimmed to 23 next week.

Australia are third in Group B of Asian qualifying behind leaders Japan and Saudi Arabia. The top two secure automatic berths to next year's finals in Russia.

Squad:

Mustafa Amini, Aziz Behich, Tim Cahill, Milos Degenek, Adam Federici, Alex Gersbach, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Mile Jedinak, James Jeggo, Tomi Juric, Matthew Jurman, Robbie Kruse, Mitchell Langerak, Mathew Leckie, Massimo Luongo, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren, Ryan McGowan, Riley McGree, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic, Mathew Ryan, Trent Sainsbury, Brad Smith, Matthew Spiranovic, James Troisi, Daniel Vukovic, Bailey Wright

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)