Bruno Fornaroli headlines desperate Socceroos squad ahead of must-win World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia

Uruguay-born Bruno Fornaroli is one of five uncapped players that have been called up to the Socceroos' threadbare squad ahead of this month's must-win World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia.

The 34-year-old Fornaroli represented Uruguay at under-17 level, but changes to FIFA's eligibility rules have allowed him to nominate for Australia after recently being granted citizenship.

The striker has become one of the A-League Men's most lethal attackers after arriving in 2015, scoring 81 goals across 138 games for Melbourne City and, currently, Perth Glory.

It's a similar process that FA undertook with fellow uncapped player Gianni Stensness, who represented New Zealand at the Olympics but switched allegiances late last year.

While Fornaroli's clearance has not yet been confirmed by FIFA, Football Australia (FA) are confident that he will be eligible to play in Australia's first crunch match against Japan in Sydney next Thursday.

Joining Fornaroli and Stensness are three other uncapped players that Graham Arnold has called up in the absence of several veterans including Aaron Mooy, Adam Taggart, and Tomi Juric.

Melbourne Victory and Olyroos striker Nicholas D'Agostino has received his maiden call-up following his scintillating form in the A-League Men, alongside fellow Olyroos graduate Nathaniel Atkinson, whose talents at Melbourne City saw him recently sign with Scottish side Hearts.

Central Coast Mariners defender Kye Rowles rounds out the debutants, but Arnold's squad is still filled with several more players with ten or fewer caps such as Denis Genreau, Fran Karacic, Connor Metcalfe, Andrew Redmayne, and Marco Tilio.

Arnold will also be without star striker Jamie Maclaren for the second must-win match against Saudi