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FORMER Brisbane midfielder Adam Sarota is a step closer to the ultimate reward for his recovery from a career-threatening knee injury – a place in Australia's World Cup squad.
The 25-year-old Cairns product, 25, was one of six Queenslanders named by Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou in a 23-man national squad for next Thursday's friendly against Ecuador in London.
Joining the Sunshine State contingent of Sarota, his FC Utrecht teammate Tommy Oar, Matt McKay, Mitch Langerak, Dario Vidosic and Ben Halloran is Brisbane Roar's Melbourne-raised right fullback Ivan Franjic.
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As expected, long-time skipper Lucas Neill, who only this week joined English second-tier club Watford after a long spell of inactivity, was left out, as was experienced trio Mark Bresciano, Josh Kennedy and Brett Holman.
Postecoglou stressed they all remained in contention for Australia's preliminary 30-man World Cup squad which will be named in May.
Postecoglou also left no doubt that the squad named for next week's clashEcuador was the first step in building the next golden generation for Australian football.
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"There is a need to balance experimentation and experience to achieve this,'' Postecoglou said.
"The Ecuador game gives this group of players an opportunity to stake a claim for the World Cup. They have been rewarded for playing consistent and strong football and shows that age and limited international experience are not barriers to opportunity.''
Former Gold Coast United and Roar attacker Halloran (Fortuna Dusseldorf), defenders Chris Herd (Aston Villa), Curtis Good (Dundee United) and midfielder Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town) are uncapped members of the squad.
Sarota is also inexperienced at national level with three caps, most recently in September 2012 under Holger Osieck.
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He damaged his cruciate ligament during a Dutch first-division game for Utrecht against Willem II days before he was to link with the Socceroos squad for a friendly against Romania. He had a knee reconstruction which kept him sidelined until three months ago.
Since then, Sarota has done enough to be in Postecoglou's World Cup selection plans.
"I watched Adam and Tommy (Oar) play against Ajax when I was there (in Holland) and you can tell he's slowly getting back into things,'' Postecoglou said.
"He's very highly rated at Utrecht. It's great to see him playing regular football."
Roar pair Franjic and McKay will travel to London after playing tomorrow nightagainst Perth Glory at Suncorp Stadiumin Brisbane.
"I have to keep form in the A-League,'' said Franjic, who is set to earn his seventh cap next week. "This is when you definitely want to be part of the Socceroos squad.''
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