Fulham striker Corey Gameiro has been handed a late call-up to the Australian squad for the Under-20 World Cup.
Gameiro will replace Matthew Leckie, who has not been released by Borussia Monchengladbach. Gameiro had been part of a 22-man training squad selected by national team coach Holger Osieck, the Olympic coach Aurelio Vidmar and under-20 boss Jan Versleijen in March. After impressing during the training camp in Duisberg, Gameiro was placed on standby for the tournament and will fly out to join his team-mates in Colombia this afternoon.
Gameiro, who had a brief spell with Liverpool, signed for Fulham in December after impressing during a trial at Motspur Park. He has since become a key part of Kit Symons’ youth team and scored a vital brace against West Brom that continued Fulham’s fine FA Youth Cup run last year. Gameiro has endeared himself to the Fulham already, by scoring three goals in three appearances against local rivals Chelsea. Fulham’s head scout Malcolm Elias has been heard comparing the young Australian forward to Liverpool legend Ian Rush – and the club are hugely optimistic about the teenager’s potential.
The Australians have been drawn with Costa Rica, Spain and Ecuador in Group C. Their campaign gets underway on Ecuador on August 1.
