Clubless Lucas Neill has been overlooked by Australia coach Ange Postecoglou for next month’s clash with Ecuador in London, according to sources.
This would leave the erstwhile skipper’s 2014 FIFA World Cup hopes in grave doubt.
With the Socceroos to play their tournament opener in Brazil against Chile on 13 June, the 35-year-old defender has less than four months to find a new club and re-ignite his stagnant career.
Postecoglou, who names his 23-man squad for the 6 March duel at Millwall's home ground The Den on Wednesday, has made it plain he will only select players for the match against fellow World Cup participant Ecuador who are playing regularly for their clubs and that reputations count for nothing in his new order.
His stance leaves Neill - whose recent training stint with Blackburn Rovers failed to convince coach Gary Bowyer he was worthy of a contact offer - on the outside looking in as Postecoglou gets set to assess the merits of a new breed at the back.
Neill, who turns 36 on 9 March, played a single game for Rovers’ under-21s with Bowyer saying: ''If there was something that could have come of it, we might have done something.
"'But at the same time, we were aware of the fact that if someone else comes in for him or if he wants to try something else to get in the World Cup squad, then that would be his goal.
''Different people are interested in him and that is where he is at the moment.''
Unless Neill finds a new home soon it appears the 96th cap won for his country last November in the 1-0 win over Costa Rica will be his last as Postecoglou puts pragmatism over sentiment.
The two-time World Cup player has been without a club since parting ways with J.League outfit Omiya Ardija in November and may now be usurped by a new wave, with the likes of Eredivsie recruit Trent Sainsbury (unavailable through injury for the Ecuador game), Preston’s Bailey Wright, China-based Ryan McGowan, Western Sydney’s Matthew Spiranovic, Curtis Good and Alex Wilkinson all pushing hard for Brazil.
Neill’s presence in the squad has been a source of heated debate since South Africa 2010, with many calling for a change of the guard back then but despite the conjecture he has often reserved some of his most commanding displays for his country.
But Neill, who has captained Australia for seven years, has played just 15 club games in the past 12 months during spells with Al-Wasl, Sydney FC and Omiya.
He has made a further eight appearances for his country in that time having been cut loose by his past five clubs – Omiya, Sydney FC, Al-Wasl, Al-Jazira and Galatasaray.
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