MATT O’RILEY faces a five-day delay before he will learn his World Cup fate.
Celtic’s Danish Under-21 midfielder has NOT been included in manager Kasper Hjulmand’s preliminary 21-man squad for the Qatar showpiece which will run from November 20 to December 18.
However, there are still five places up for grabs when the final travelling party of 26 must be delivered to FIFA by Sunday for the global extravaganza which will kick off a week later with the opening encounter between the hosts and Ecuador.
The Danish supremo is holding off finalising his pool until the last round of club fixtures.
WAITING AND HOPING…Matt O’Riley will learn his World Cup fate on Sunday.
O’Riley, who has been in outstanding form since his bargain £1.5million arrival from English third tier outfit MK Dons in January, is hoping to get the nod from his adopted nation – his mother is Danish – and is poised to line up for the champions at Motherwell tomorrow night and Ross County at home on Saturday in an effort to attract the attention of Hjulmand.
The Danish boss, speaking to BBC, said: “There are 10 or 12 players still in contention for the last five spots.
“Many things can happen. It’s unsolvable, but it’s the right way to do it – there are two games left for many of our players and that can easily change things.”
Denmark will commence the tournament against Tunisia on November 22 before facing world champions France six days later.
There is a chance O’Riley could line up against his Hoops team-mate Aaron Mooy on November 30.
The 32-year-old anchorman, who was signed by his former international gaffer Ange Postecoglou on a two-year deal in August, was named in the Australia 26-man squad this morning, as CQN reported.
