Irankunda injured in blow to ‘Roos
Nestory Irankunda's hopes of being selected in the Socceroos squad for next month's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China are seemingly in jeopardy after he injured his ankle playing for Swiss club Grasshoppers.
Irankunda was replaced in just the 36th minute of Grasshoppers' 1-1 Swiss Super League weekend draw with Lugano.
The 19-year-oid former Adelaide United winger had earlier provided the assist for his team's goal, which was scored by Frenchman Evans Maurin.
However, joy turned to despair when Irankunda, who joined Grasshoppers on loan from German giants Bayern Munich last month, was forced off less than 30 minutes later.
It's understood that Irankunda is set to have scans to determine the severity of the injury.
Back-to-back assists from Nestory Irankunda 💨🔥🎥 @gc_zuerich#SocceroosAbroadpic.twitter.com/qWCfK6cpui
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) February 9, 2025
Irankunda wasn't the only Socceroo injured in Europe on the weekend, with left-back Jordan Bos lasting just 24 minutes before being replaced due to a hamstring problem in his Belgian club side Westerlo's 4-2 win over Standard Liege.
Former Melbourne City star Bos will also have scans to determine the extent of the problem and whether it will damage his chances of playing for Australia next month.
In better news for the Socceroos, midfielder Aiden O'Neill returned from injury in coming on as a second-half substitute in the same match for Standard Liege.
Elsewhere in Europe, a hip injury forced Socceroos captain Mat Ryan to miss his French club Lens' 2-0 away loss to Nice.
Goalkeeper Ryan had played in Lens' previous two Ligue One matches after joining the club from Italian outfit Roma.
Ryan's main rival for Australia's first-choice keeper's spot, Joe Gauci, was in Barnsley's team that lost 2-1 in England's League One competition to Stockport County.
Gauci moved to Barnsley last month on loan from English Premier League club Aston Villa.
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