Socceroos coach Graham Arnold names 25-man squad for next week's clash with Vietnam

The fear of players testing positive for COVID-19 as they travel to Australia will be keeping Socceroos coach Graham Arnold awake over the weekend as his squad assembles in Melbourne ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers.

Arnold has named a 25-man squad for next week's clash with Vietnam at AAMI Park and an away date with Oman in Muscat on February 1.

The return of star midfielders Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic headline 10 changes to the squad from that picked for the previous international window against Saudi Arabia and China.

Injuries, COVID-19 and other factors have forced Arnold to alter his lineup.

Centre-back Harry Souttar is out after damaging an ACL against the Saudis, left-back Callum Elder is also injured while winger Awer Mabil has fallen out of favour with Danish club FC Midtjylland and is recovering from a bout of COVID-19.

Arnold is wary he could yet have to make further alterations as players travel from all over the globe to Australia in the coming days.

Socceroos play-maker Tom Rogic has continued his fine form, scoring a goal of the season contender in Celtic's 3-0 defeat of Dundee.

«We're picking this squad today but the fingers will be crossed all weekend that no-one goes down with COVID right through … players coming across from Europe and here in Australia in the A-League,» Arnold said.

«They're all challenges that we've got to get on with and I've picked a squad that I believe is strong squad. A squad that's healthy and ready and it'll add more depth in the long run.»

As well as key duo Mooy and Rogic, Arnold has also called up uncapped trio Joel King, Kye Rowles and Marco Tilio.

All three were part of Arnold's Olyroos squad in Tokyo last year and are three of nine Australian-based players in the team.

Melbourne