SOCCEROOS coach Graham Arnold wants to see one thing from Dimi Petratos - more goals. The Jets talisman is one of "six or seven" players Arnold expects to "push for selection" in the national team when the A-League season kicks off next weekend. Petratos played off the bench in a Socceroos outfit, minus several senior players, which lost 1-0 to South Korea in a friendly in June. However, he and the majority of A-League players were overlooked for a European-base side which beat Kuwait 3-0 last month in the first step towards qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Speaking at a Newcastle Jets 500 Club corporate breakfast on Wednesday, Arnold indicated he would again go with "battle-hardened" players for the second qualifier against Nepal in Canberra next Thursday night. "For these type of games, you need battle-hardened players," Arnold said. "They are not battle hardened at the moment because they have not played competitive games. "Dimi was great when he came to South Korea and he is obviously on the list and there is another seven or eight from the A-League who are on the list. It is just about getting game time." Petratos made his Socceroos debut against Norway in March 2018 after a break-out A-League campaign in which he netted 10 goals and was a finalist in the Johnny Warren Medal player of the year award. He was a part of Bert van Marwijk's World Cup squad but didn't take the field. The set-piece specialist collected seven goals last A-League season despite playing in a wider role on the right for much of it. "Dimi has that X-factor," Arnold said. "I know Ernie relies heavily on him in the attacking part of the pitch to create goal-scoring situations. If there was one thing you would like to see a little bit more from Dimi, it's more goals. He has the quality there. When he does score a goal it could count for ten, because it's normally a bomb. Getting himself in better goal-scoring positions would be good." Following Nepal, the Socceroos jump on a plane to Kaogsiung where they face Chinese Tapei on October 16. The Jets will have played four games before the away qualifier to Jordan on November 16. "There are a good seven or so A-League players, who once they start playing competition football, will push for selection," Arnold said. "At this stage they are not match-hardened compared to the boys overseas who are ten-to-twelve games into their season." Petratos is not the only Jets player Arnold has an eye on. Defender Johnny Koutroumbis has been selected in the Olyroos squad, which departs on Sunday for a training camp in Doha in the lead up to the Asian Under-23 championships to be held in Thailand in January. The tournament doubles as a qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics. Overlooked for two friendlies against New Zealand earlier this month, Koutroumbis gets a chance to press his claims for the Asian Championships, where Australia have been drawn alongside Iraq, Bahrain and the hosts. Two from each pool progress to the quarter-finals. The top three teams plus Japan book a spot in Tokyo. It has been 12 months since Koutroumbis had surgery to remove his thyroid after being diagnosed with stage-one thyroid cancer. "Johnny is doing very well," Arnold said. "It is always a joy to coach him. It is so important to get those boys qualified for the Olympics. That will create a lot of depth. Every Olympic campaign creates six to seven players who end up playing 50 caps for Australia. We have not qualified for the Olympics since 2008." Wednesday's breakfast, which drew 170 people, including players, business owners, politicians and fans was the first of three Jets' 500 club functions to be held this season. READ MORE: IMPORT TURNS UP HEAT AT JETS READ MORE: JETS EYE TRIAL WITH YOUNG SOCCEROOS
SOCCEROOS coach Graham Arnold wants to see one thing from Dimi Petratos - more goals.
The Jets talisman is one of "six or seven" players Arnold expects to "push for selection" in the national team when the A-League season kicks off next weekend.
Petratos played off the bench in a Socceroos outfit, minus several senior players, which lost 1-0 to South Korea in a friendly in June.
However, he and the majority of A-League players were overlooked for a European-base side which beat Kuwait 3-0 last month in the first step towards qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Speaking at a Newcastle Jets 500 Club corporate breakfast on Wednesday, Arnold indicated he would again go with "battle-hardened" players for the second qualifier against Nepal in Canberra next Thursday night.
"For these type of games, you need battle-hardened players," Arnold said. "They are not battle hardened at the moment because they have not played competitive games.
"Dimi was great when he came to South Korea and he is obviously on the list and there is another seven or eight from the A-League who are on the list. It is just about getting game time."
Petratos made his Socceroos debut against Norway in March 2018 after a break-out A-League campaign in which he netted 10 goals and was a finalist in the Johnny Warren Medal player of the year award.
He was a part of Bert van Marwijk's World Cup squad but didn't take the field.
The set-piece specialist collected seven goals last A-League season despite playing in a wider role on the right for much of it.
POSITIVE: Graham Arnold was the guest speaker at the Jets 500 club corporate breakfast on Wednesday. Picture: Sproule Sports Focus
"Dimi has that X-factor," Arnold said. "I know Ernie relies heavily on him in the attacking part of the pitch to create goal-scoring situations. If there was one thing you would like to see a little bit more from Dimi, it's more goals. He has the quality there. When he does score a goal it could count for ten, because it's normally a bomb. Getting himself in better goal-scoring positions would be good."
Following Nepal, the Socceroos jump on a plane to Kaogsiung where they face Chinese Tapei on October 16.
The Jets will have played four games before the away qualifier to Jordan on November 16.
"There are a good seven or so A-League players, who once they start playing competition football, will push for selection," Arnold said.
Target man: Goals key to Dimi's Socceroo hopes says Arnold
"At this stage they are not match-hardened compared to the boys overseas who are ten-to-twelve games into their season."
Petratos is not the only Jets player Arnold has an eye on.
Defender Johnny Koutroumbis has been selected in the Olyroos squad, which departs on Sunday for a training camp in Doha in the lead up to the Asian Under-23 championships to be held in Thailand in January. The tournament doubles as a qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics.
Overlooked for two friendlies against New Zealand earlier this month, Koutroumbis gets a chance to press his claims for the Asian Championships, where Australia have been drawn alongside Iraq, Bahrain and the hosts.
Two from each pool progress to the quarter-finals. The top three teams plus Japan book a spot in Tokyo.
It has been 12 months since Koutroumbis had surgery to remove his thyroid after being diagnosed with stage-one thyroid cancer.
"Johnny is doing very well," Arnold said. "It is always a joy to coach him. It is so important to get those boys qualified for the Olympics. That will create a lot of depth. Every Olympic campaign creates six to seven players who end up playing 50 caps for Australia. We have not qualified for the Olympics since 2008."
Wednesday's breakfast, which drew 170 people, including players, business owners, politicians and fans was the first of three Jets' 500 club functions to be held this season.
