Leckie's availability could tip World Cup tie in Australia's favour

It’s all to play for in Sydney on Wednesday when Australia welcome Honduras for the second leg of their World Cup playoff. The Socceroos secured a 0-0 draw with their Central American counterparts last week and, to an extent, have the upper hand in the return match-up in Sydney. 

The availability of Mark Milligan at centre-back is is benefit for the Socceroos, but it’s the return of Mathew Leckie that should boost Ante Postecoglu’s side for the meeting with Honduras. The Hertha Berlin man missed the first leg stalemate through suspension, while injury could well have curtailed the 26-year-old’s chance to fire his country through to the World Cup. 

However, Leckie has been passed fit for Australia and the hope now is that he can transfer his solid club form to country. The attacker’s goalscoring record for the national team is spotty, but three of his last four goals for Australia have proven decisive in securing wins over Greece and Thailand and a draw with Iraq. 

In Postecoglu’s preferred three-man defensive setup, it’s likely that Leckie will play as a right wing-back to help stretch the Honduras backline. With Mile Jedinak and Massimo Luongo providing the defensive solidity in the middle of the park, this will allow Leckie to push on and support the attack, particularly should Postecoglu continue with the more defensive minded Aziz Behich on the opposite flank. 

Indeed, Leckie’s offensive impact has contributed heavily to Hertha Berlin’s 14 points earned in the Bundesliga this season. He may only have four goals to his name, but those four goals have earned Hertha Berlin an additional six points this season. 

What’s more, he is winning an average of 4.1 aerial duels per game, that ranking among the top 15 players in Germany’s top tier this term. If Australia do implement a more direct approach when they attack Honduras, they could do worse than look to exploit Leckie’s statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘aerial duels’. That being said, his expected opposite number, Emilio Izaguirre, is no slouch in the air, so Leckie will be up against it if he does start against the former Celtic man. 

Nevertheless, his return is significant for the Socceroos, in what promises to be an edgy encounter at the ANZ Stadium. His knack for scoring big goals at key moments could prove vital against Honduras on Wednesday and it may well be that Leckie is the difference between a spot at Russia 2018 and a fall at the final hurdle.