“We are all gutted for him,” Socceroo defender Aziz Behich said. “At the same time, the group that’s here have a job to do. We just have to move on, we have to look forward to the game and like I said, we have enough players to step up to the plate and get the job done.”

One Australian player who has sealed a major move is Socceroos’ winger Awer Mabil who is set to play in the top tier of Spanish football next season. The 26-year-old is set to be unveiled as a player for La Liga club Cadiz, finalising a transfer from Danish side Midtjylland. Mabil has spent this year on loan at Turkish club Kasimpasa where he regained his form and regular game time, earning his move to La Liga.

The transfer is understood to have been finalised after Cadiz secured their survival on the last day of the season in Spain, beating Alaves to remain in La Liga.

The Socceroos face UAE in the first play-off at 4am, June 8. If they win that match, they will play Peru at 4am on June 14. Both games will be held in Doha, Qatar.