Alex Robertson, Nestory Irankunda call-ups provide a glimpse into an exciting future

His father, Mark, and grandfather, Alex, have both played for the national team and while he is yet to play for City as a senior, he has been called up in several of Guardiola’s squads lately.

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“I’ve probably been talking to him for over 18 months. It was one step at a time,” Arnold said. “This time when I called him and said I wanted him in the squad for those games in Ecuador, he was like, ‘Arnie, I can’t wait.’

“I think the lad has now allied himself with Australia and I’m pretty sure there’s only one nation he’ll play for once he puts on a Socceroos shirt and feels the emblem on his heart.

“I didn’t just pick him because he’s a talent… I wouldn’t pick him if I didn’t think he was already on the fringes. He plays more like No.8 – very similar [Kevin] De Bruyne or [Ilkay] Gundogan playing that kind of role at Man City.

“When you play and train with players like that every week, he’s there for a reason and that reason is obvious Pep Guardiola values ​​him highly and sees the quality he has.”

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The other new faces in the squad are Melbourne City left-back Jordan Bos – who, according to Arnold, was the best Australian player he’s seen at that position since Scott Chipperfield – his team-mate Aiden O’Neill, Adelaide United goalkeeper Joe Gauci.

Western Sydney Wanderers star Brandon Borrello, who had previously been crowned four times for the Socceroos, was also recalled for his superb performances in the A-League, as was Connor Metcalfe, who is also in new form with German club St Pauli is attacking role.

Martin Boyle, Ajdin Hrustic, Jamie Maclaren and Mathew Leckie were part of Australia’s World Cup squad but will miss this camp through injury, while goalkeeper Danny Vukovic has retired from international duty. The only other player to have been in Qatar but not been called up is Joel King, who is back on loan at Sydney FC after battling for game time with Odense BK in Denmark and appears to have been passed by Bos in the national pecking order.

“I’ve been impressed with him for probably a year and a half,” Arnold said of Bos. “I don’t think I’ve seen one like this since Scott Chipperfield. I hate naming him but he’s a very, very similar player to Scotty.

“He has great attacking skills. He can get high, come forward and put some good crosses into the box and physically he’s a good example of what we need. I look forward to seeing these guys and I’ve said that publicly before – I believe in the A-League, I believe in Australian kids.”

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