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Aaron Mooy - Celtic
Games played in 22/23 season: 14
Assists: 2
After coming off the bench for 20-25 minutes of game time in the last two weeks, Mooy had arguably his best outing yet for Celtic, tallying two assists in the full 90 minutes of their 6-1 thrashing of Hibernian on the weekend. With Celtic now out of the Champions League, Mooy’s only opportunity to further secure his position in Qatar will be in the Scottish Premier League.
Matt Ryan - FC Copenhagen
Games played (All competitions): 10
Goals conceded: 11
Clean sheets: 5
Ryan’s path to standing between the big sticks in Qatar has been cast into serious doubt as he finds himself benched for the foreseeable future at Copenhagen amid a public rivalry with the club’s other keeper Kamil Grabara. Ryan has now missed the club’s last two games including this morning’s 0-0 Champions League draw with Manchester City, a clean sheet for Grabara against one of the best clubs in the world spelling bad news for the Aussie.
Ajdin Hrustic - Hellas Verona
Games played in 22/23 season: 5
After making the switch from Eintracht Frankfurt and the Bundesliga, life in Serie A for Hrustic has begun with mixed fortunes in terms of playing time. The 26-year-old has started two games, playing 60 and 71 minutes respectively in losses to Salernitana and Fiorentina while also coming off the bench late in losses to Lazio and Udinese. But in a cruel twist of fate, Hrustic sustained an ankle injury in the club's most recent loss to AC Milan, his World Cup hopes now in serious doubt with the tournament only a month away.
Jackson Irvine - FC St. Pauli
Games played in 22/23 season: 12
Goals: 3
Irvine is enjoying a regular starting spot in the German second tier with St Pauli in his second season, starting 10 games and donning the captain’s armband in four of them. He’s also been utilised in a number of roles through the season so far, playing in defensive, central and right midfield which is sure to get Graham Arnold thinking about his eligibility for the World Cup.
Awer Mabil - Cadiz
Games played in 22/23 season: 4
After starting 1 game and appearing off the bench in another three to start the La Liga season, Mabil has been confined to the subs for Cadiz’s most recent three fixtures in an unfortunate turn of events for the winger. While he is likely in Arnold’s good graces after netting a great goal in the first of the two friendlies against New Zealand last month, it’ll be a nervy wait for selection if he continues to not be selected at club level.
Adam Taggart - Cerezo Osaka
Games played in 22/23 season: 19
Goals: 5
A meniscus injury kept Taggart out of the first nine games of the J League season early in the year, but since returning the 29-year-old has started 10 games and come off the bench in 8, netting five goals as he looks to return to his best form of past A-League and K-League seasons. His most recent goal came against Jubilo Iwata on September 17, a game where he played all but 7 of the 90 minutes with the next two games seeing him play around 70 minutes before being substituted.
Matthew Leckie - Melbourne City
Games played in 22-23 season: 2
With the A-League season kicking off just two weeks ago, Leckie has played the full 90 minutes in both fixtures for Melbourne City as they’ve beaten Western United and Brisbane Roar. Looking likely to be a starter for the full season, the 31-year-old should be in good position to earn a spot in the squad for the World Cup and be part of the left midfield rotation.
Jamie Maclaren - Melbourne City
Games played in 22/23 season: 2
Goals: 3
Maclaren’s A-League season is off to the perfect start, backing up his first game strike with a brace in the second, a key piece who is clearly in goalscoring form with Qatar just a month away. The 29-year-old only got one appearance off the bench in the two New Zealand friendlies, with just his A-League performances able to show his coach he deserves a spot in Qatar.
Martin Boyle - Hibernian FC
Games played in 22/23 season: 10
Goals: 4
Assists: 1
The Scottish-born winger is enjoying a good season with Hibernian as a regular in the starting line-up, playing 90 minutes in their last 8 games after missing the opener and coming off the bench in the next two. He’s also netted four goals and nabbed an assist for Hibernian’s only goal in a 6-1 thrashing by Celtic last time out. His regular minutes and lively dressing room presence gives him a strong chance of heading to the World Cup.
Harry Souttar - Stoke City
Games played in 22/23 season: 1
The towering centre-back finally made his return from an ACL injury after almost a year on the weekend, playing 45 minutes for Stoke U21s against Nottingham Forest U21s. His coach Alex Neil was hopeful Souttar would be able to play another 4-5 games and get enough minutes to be considered for the World Cup.
Mitch Duke - Fagiano Okayama
Games played in 22/23 season: 35
Goals: 8
Assists: 3
The former Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast man has benefited from an earlier start to his season in the J-League, playing almost 40 games with varying levels of minutes. Importantly for his Qatar selection hopes though, Duke has played all 90 minutes in the club’s last three games, showing he’s ready to go get amongst the goals if picked for the big stage.
Jason Cummings - Central Coast Mariners
Games played in 22/23 season: 1
Goals: 1
The mercurial Scottish-born forward has had the best start possible to his season, scoring in the Mariners’ 2-2 A-League opener against Sydney FC to back up his penalty in the second friendly against New Zealand. He’s not looking like slowing down and with continued regular minutes in the A-League, we should see him on the plane to Qatar.
Tom Rogic - West Bromwich Albion
Games played in 22/23 season: 3
Rogic's season has been up and down so far since moving to the Hawthorns in September, sitting out his first two games there due to injury. Once healthy, Rogic started in a 3-2 loss to Swansea before coming off the bench and playing 30 minutes against Preston. The 29-year-old missed the next two matches before playing another 30 minutes against Bristol City on the weekend.
Trent Sainsbury - Al-Wakrah SC
Games played in 22/23: 6
Goals: 1
Sainsbury will already have a leg up for the World Cup, given he plays club football in Qatar and will be very used to the conditions. The centre-back has played 90 minutes in all but one of Al-Wakrah's 7 league matches and scored in their 4-2 opening match victory over Al Duhail. A reliable member of the Socceroos squad for some time, we should see Sainsbury line up in Qatar.
