Mohamed Touré's Absence Raises Concerns for Socceroos Ahead of Türkiye Clash
ALAMEDA, California — On a cool Wednesday evening at the Oakland Roots and Soul facility, the Socceroos went through their paces, 26 players in camp, 25 on the grass.
The missing man was impossible to ignore.
Mohamed Touré, the striker widely tipped to spearhead Australia’s campaign, was absent from the portion of training open to media, a development that instantly sharpened focus just days out from the opening Group D clash with Türkiye.
Star striker missing, questions with no answers
Touré arrived at the facility with his teammates, posed for the team photo, then disappeared from view. When the squad emerged for the first 15 minutes of work in front of cameras and reporters, every outfield player and goalkeeper was present.
Except the one many consider the focal point of Tony Popovic’s attack.
Jordan Bos admitted he was as surprised as anyone.
"No, I actually don't know," the defender said when asked about Touré. "It was actually during training where I noticed he wasn't in there, so I don't know why he wasn't."
Once the media were moved away and the serious work began, Touré still didn’t join the group.
A Socceroos spokesperson later confirmed that the Norwich City forward is expected back on the training pitch on Thursday, but offered no detail on what kept him out on Wednesday. No injury bulletin. No illness note. Just a quiet assurance that he should return.
With Türkiye looming, that silence will only fuel speculation.
A potential blow at the sharp end
Any absence for Touré would cut deep. At 22, he has been earmarked to lead the line throughout this campaign, his form at Norwich City and his blend of pace and power turning him into one of the most talked-about pieces in Popovic’s puzzle.
"He's a big asset for us, he's been doing really well, and his new club, he's scoring goals and his power -- everything about him -- is great," Bos said, summing up the mood inside camp.
Strip that out of the starting XI, even temporarily, and the picture changes fast.
If Touré cannot face Türkiye on Saturday, the Socceroos are left with just one recognised fit centre-forward: Tete Yengi. The 25-year-old only made his international debut last weekend in San Diego, but he announced himself with a thumping 56th-minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Switzerland.
Thrown in at the deep end again? It’s not out of the question.
Popovic’s reshuffle options
Popovic does have alternatives, though none as natural a No. 9 as Touré.
Nestory Irankunda, who started on the wing against Switzerland, has previously been used through the middle by the coach. His raw pace and direct running could offer a different type of threat if asked to occupy central defenders rather than full-backs.
Then there is Mathew Leckie, the veteran whose career has been built on versatility and big-game reliability. Listed as a winger, he has often been pushed inside for club and country, operating as a central forward when systems or circumstances demanded it.
Popovic made a point of highlighting that flexibility when he named his squad.
"The luxury of Mathew Leckie is that he can play anywhere. He has the experience and maturity that you don't need a week or two of training in a position with him. You can basically show him a video, and he would know what to do."
If Popovic decides not to start Yengi, Leckie shapes as the most likely stopgap at the tip of the attack, a trusted lieutenant asked to plug a vital gap.
Countdown to Türkiye
For now, the official line is simple: Touré is expected back at training on Thursday, behind closed doors.
The reality is more complex. Australia’s preparation for Türkiye was built around a powerful, in-form No. 9 from Norwich City. One missed session, with no explanation, is enough to unsettle that script.
On Thursday, behind the fences and away from the cameras, the Socceroos will find out whether their plan up front holds — or whether Popovic must rip it up and lean on improvisation just as the tournament begins.
