Evergreen Melbourne Victory marksman Bruno Fornaroli eyeing off Socceroos callup as World Cup wunderkind falls further out of favour

Melbourne Victory striker Bruno Fornaroli may get a Socceroos callup for next month’s Asian Cup, as young gun Garang Kuol falls out of favour with national team.

Brandon Borrello will miss January’s AFC Asian Cup after sustaining a serious foot injury during the Wanderers’ derby win over Sydney FC.

With Borrello out, there’s a possibility that coach Graham Arnold may call upon Fornaroli, who has been in tremendous form.

The 36-year-old striker scored a contender for goal of the season in his side’s 2-2 draw with the Mariners on Sunday and seems to be getting better each week.

Meanwhile, last year’s wunderkind Garang Kuol is already at a career crossroads and has not only fallen out of favour with the Socceroos, but the Olyroos ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Fornaroli has been clinical in front of goal this season for Melbourne

It was only one year ago that Kuol made a promising appearance for Australia at the World Cup and secured a four-year deal with Newcastle United. 

However, now 19, Kuol is struggling on loan at FC Volendam in the Eredivisie, having scored only once in 12 appearances. 

His lightweight frame and questionable endurance are proving to be challenges in a league that exposes weaknesses.

Despite earning five senior caps, Kuol has fallen out of favor with the Socceroos and the Olyroos, a stark contrast to the hype surrounding his move to Newcastle 14 months ago. 

The situation is drawing parallels to Daniel Arzani’s misadventures, who, like Kuol, experienced initial success but faced setbacks during loan spells in Europe before returning to the A-League.

Kuol’s recent 30-minute cameo for Volendam ended in a 5-0 defeat, contributing to concerns about his impact and the team’s performance. 

Before joining Newcastle, Kuol had the option to join VfB Stuttgart but opted for England’s north-east instead. 

Youngster Garang Kuol has fallen out of favour with both the Socceroos and Olyroos

Observers in Holland acknowledge Kuol’s natural talent but express reservations about his work rate, physicality, and ability to last 90 minutes.

The upcoming match against Feyenoord poses a challenge, and whether Kuol will feature remains uncertain, raising questions about his future trajectory in professional football