Keanu Baccus and Ryan Strain endured a frustrating end to their international break.
The St Mirren pair were hoping to be involved in Australia’s friendly clash with Ecuador in Melbourne this morning.
But the duo were forced to watch on from the sidelines as Graham Arnold’s Socceroos slipped to a disappointing 2-1 home defeat at the Marvel Stadium.
Strain was hoping to pick up his second cap for his country after painfully missing out on a spot in their World Cup squad in Qatar.
Head coach Arnold had hinted the defender would be involved in Melbourne after missing the first friendly meeting with Ecuador in Sydney last week altogether.
Midfielder Baccus started that clash, which ended 3-1 to the Aussies, but both he and Strain played no part in Tuesday’s match.
The pair now face a gruelling trip home, with Saints boss Stephen Robinson hoping they’ll still be fit enough to play in their crucial clash with Livingston this Saturday.
The Buddies currently sit in seventh spot in the Premiership table, just one point behind the Lions in sixth and three behind Aberdeen in fourth.
A win this weekend could well be crucial to make St Mirren’s top-six dream come true in this campaign, with Baccus and Strain both integral players for the Paisley club so far this season.
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