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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ben Ramage

St Mirren pair Ryan Strain and Keanu Baccus face nervous wait for Australia World Cup call

Saints stars Ryan Strain and Keanu Baccus are nervously waiting to discover if their Australia World Cup dream will come true.

The talented pair both made their debut for the Socceroos in September against New Zealand having impressed in the Premiership since joining the Buddies over the summer.

Strain, 25, and 24-year-old Baccus have quickly become key players in Paisley, with Strain notching his first goal for St Mirren with a sensational free-kick against Ross County on Saturday.

Baccus has found the net twice so far in the stripes, notching a winner against Hibs in August and the opener in a 2-1 win against Livingston last month.

The duo have both spoken openly about their ambition to represent their country in Qatar when the World Cup kicks off later this month.

They could potentially find themselves lining up against current champions France, as well as Denmark and Tunisia in the hunt for what would be hugely memorable second caps.

Socceroos boss Graham Arnold is set to announce his final 26-man squad in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Strain is competing with Hearts full back Nathanial Atkinson and Fran Karacic, who plays for Serie B side Brescia, for a right back berth, while Baccus is hoping to be included alongside the likes of fellow midfielders Jackson Irvine, Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic.

Both Saints boss Stephen Robinson and stand-in skipper Mark O'Hara have both stated recently the pair deserve to be involved.

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