Shepparton product Alou Kuol is bound for Italy after being named in Australia’s Olyroos squad for a training camp later this month.
Kuol, who is with German Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, was one of 24 players included in the squad.
The nine-day training camp is preparation for the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 Qualifiers, to be held in September, and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Olyroos will play two friendlies as part of the camp, taking on the Switzerland under-21 national team and Serie B side Como.
Kuol made his Bundesliga debut for Stuttgart in January, but is yet to make another appearance for the club’s senior side.
Meanwhile, fellow Sheppertonian James Nieuwenhuizen and his Young Socceroos teammates are through to the knockout stages of the AFC U20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan.
Australia finished second in its group, advancing to the next stage of the tournament after a thumping 9-1 win over Qatar on Tuesday night.
Goalkeeper Nieuwenhuizen – who signed a professional contract with Melbourne City in 2021 – is yet to make an appearance in Uzbekistan, being named on the bench for the three group games.
The Young Socceroos will need to beat Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals not just to keep their run in the competition alive, but to also book Australia’s spot at the FIFA U20 World Cup to be played in Indonesia later this year.
In Scotland, Garang Kuol made his sixth appearance for Heart of Midlothian at the weekend.
The 18-year-old came off the bench in the the second half of Hearts’ 3-0 win over St Johnstone.
Kuol came close to scoring his first goal for the Edinburgh club, but his delicate chip over the keeper bounced back off the crossbar.