Central Coast Mariners' A-League star Josh Nisbet has received his maiden call-up to the Socceroos after Lewis Miller's injury.
The talented midfielder has impressed in the Mariners midfield this season, with Graham Arnold heeding calls to select the 24-year-old.
Ajdin Hrustic has returned to the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Lebanon in a largely unchanged list of players.
The attacking midfielder and striker Adam Taggart are the headline additions for a squad that will play a double header against the Lebanese in Sydney (March 21) and Canberra (March 26).
Hrustic missed out on the Asian Cup because of injury and lack of game time at Serie A side Hellas Verona, but has since returned to form at Dutch club Heracles Almelo.
MORE: Socceroos World Cup 2026 qualifying: Fixtures, results, groups, goalscorers, squad, Asian Cup 2023
Perth Glory striker Adam Taggart has also earned a recall after scoring 14 goals in 18 A-League appearances since returning to Australia.
Injuries have seen Martin Boyle, Aziz Behich and Marco Tilio ruled out of contention, while Aiden O'Neil is suspended after his Asian Cup quarter-final red card.
“We’ve gone with a similar squad to the one we took to the Asian Cup, and they’ll be prepared to face a side in Lebanon that have a lot to play for,” Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said.
“It’ll be a great test for the group and one I know they’re very much looking forward to."
Arnold explained the positives he took out of Australia reaching the Asian Cup quarter-finals and believed the Socceroos were building towards the 2026 World Cup.
“As a group we took a lot away from our time in Qatar and I’ve got no doubt that we’ll be better for the experience as we work towards World Cup qualification,” Arnold said.
“We selected a number of younger, inexperienced players for the Asian Cup with the view of giving them more opportunities at international level as well as exposing them to tournament conditions.
“It’s part of our continued regeneration of the senior national team squad, ensuring that in two years' time we have the depth and experience required to succeed on international football’s biggest stage.”
Socceroos squad vs. Lebanon - World Cup qualifiers
- Mat Ryan [GK] (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands)
- Joe Gauci [GK] (Adelaide United, Australia)
- Thomas Glover [GK] (Middlesbrough, England)
- Harry Souttar (Leicester City, England)
- Kye Rowles (Hearts, Scotland)
- Cameron Burgess (Ipswich Town, England
- Nathaniel Atkinson (Hearts, Scotland
- Thomas Deng (Albirex Niigata, Japan)
- Jordy Bos (Westerlo, Belgium)
- Joshua Nisbet (Central Coast Mariners, Australia)
- Gethin Jones (Bolton, England)
- Keanu Baccus (St Mirren, Scotland)
- Ajdin Hrustic (Heracles Almelo, Netherlands)
- Jackson Irvine (St Pauli, Germany)
- Connor Metcalfe (St Pauli, Germany)
- Riley McGree (Middlesbrough, England)
- Patrick Yazbek (Viking FK, Norway)
- Craig Goodwin (Al Wehda, Saudi Arabia
- Sam Silvera (Middlesbrough, England)
- Brandon Borrello (Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia)
- John Iredale (SV Wehen Wiesbaden, Germany)
- Kusini Yengi (Portsmouth, England)
- Bruno Fornaroli Melbourne Victory, Australia)
- Mitchell Duke (FC Machida Zelvia, Japan)
- Adam Taggart (Perth Glory, Australia)
