Sydney FC stars Trent Buhagiar and Thomas Heward-Belle have been selected in Australia’s squad for next month’s AFC U-23 Championship in Thailand. 

The Sky Blues are set to leave with the squad for a brief pre-tournament training camp in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today.

Australia’s U-23 men’s national team for next month’s tournament will feature fourteen (14) players representing eight (8) Hyundai A-League clubs, with nine (9) members of Graham Arnold’s squad set to arrive in South-East Asia from overseas-based teams. 

The green and gold will play an international friendly against Korea Republic in Malaysia’s capital on Friday afternoon (local time), before traveling to Bangkok on Saturday where Group A games against Iraq, Thailand, and Bahrain await.

Both players will be absent for Sydney FC’s next two games at home to Adelaide United on Saturday and away to Newcastle Jets the following week.

Depending how far the Olyroos get the players could also miss the trip to Melbourne Victory on January 24th before they return to Sydney.

The top three teams at the AFC U-23 Championship Thailand 2020 will join Japan as Asia’s representatives in the men’s football competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Australia U-23 Head Coach Graham Arnold:

“I am happy with the final make-up of our squad for next month’s Championship. Over the past twelve months we have considered many players both at home and abroad as we’ve looked to grow the pool of players available to us. To finalise the twenty-three players for this tournament was no simple task – we had over fifty players on our radar for this tournament, so we will arrive in Thailand with a strong squad and one that I believe will represent Australia well.”

“Between arriving in camp in Kuala Lumpur and our first game of the tournament against Iraq in Bangkok we have only nine days. As a group it’s important that we are disciplined and focused from the outset as we seek to make the most of our time together. Our target in Thailand is to become the under twenty-three champions of Asia, and we know if we can achieve that further opportunities will come the team’s way in 2020.” 

“Supporters in Australia will be familiar with many of the Hyundai A-League-based players in the squad, but I am excited for the football community to learn more about some of the overseas-based boys throughout January, too. There are some fantastic young players in our squad with the potential to progress to the Socceroos in the coming years.” 

Australia U-23 Men’s National Team Squad | AFC U-23 Championship Thailand 2020