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SOCCEROOS coach Ange Postecoglou is delivering on his promise to cast the net far and wide in search of potential surprise packets for his World Cup squad.
Postecoglou is halfway through a month-long trip across Asia and Europe where he hopes to find new members for a squad which suffered the devastating loss of Robbie Kruse to injury this week.
Having watched the Olyroos in three games at the AFC Under-22 Championships in Oman, Postecoglou will spend the next week in the UK watching a host of players plying their trade in England's League One competition most casual fans would struggle to recognise.
Swindon Town midfielder Massimo Luongo, Preston North End duo Bailey Wright and Neil Kilkenny and Milwall pair Shane Lowry and Scott McDonald are all on Postecoglou's visiting list as is injured Aston Villa player Chris Herd and Scotland-based Jackson Irvine.
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None of the aforementioned players were in Postecoglou's line-up for last November's win against Costa Rica.
"The plan is to watch most of them play and the ones I can't watch to get as much information as I can about them and where they're at," the former Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory boss said.
"I move on to the continent after that. I'll go to Holland and Germany mainly to check on some players there and then I'll swing back through the Middle East.
"It's a chance for me to meet with some of the players who I'm not familiar with or who I want to have a look at."
Postecoglou hopes the trip will allow him to pick the best squad possible for the Socceroos' upcoming March 5 friendly against a yet to be named opponent.
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"I need to make some quick decisions on the make up of our squad," he said.
After returning home Postecoglou will spend a week in Brazil in late February to inspect Australia's training base in Vitoria.
Adelaide United goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic remains the most likely SA-based player to earn a trip to Brazil in June.
Postecoglou, who met with Liverpool reserve keeper Brad Jones and coach Brendan Rodgers this week, said he had "four or five (keepers) on my list".
Europe-based Matt Ryan and Mitch Langerak are expected to command two of the three available goalkeeping positions.
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Former Reds Mathew Leckie and Dario Vidosic are also strong chances after starting in the Costa Rica game.
Kruse's ACL injury only increases the duo's chances given their ability to play on the right, but Postecoglou said it was too soon to muse about who would replace the Bayer Leverkusen forward.
"Robbie was an important part of what we did. If you look at our players Robbie and Mile Jedinak are the ones who were playing at the highest level. To lose one of those two is a blow," he said.
"It's way too premature (to name a replacement).
"The message that I want to send out there is wherever they're playing the key is to play good football and to try to dominate the competition they're in.
"My main priority leading into the World Cup is to pick players who are in good form and in good physical condition."
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