The next generation of Socceroos stars will debut against Mexico this month and they will be mentored by World Cup hero Graham Arnold after he rejected overtures from the Scottish Premiership to commit to Australia.

Arnold was the toast of Australian football in 2022 after steering the Socceroos to an  unprecedented two wins in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar before an honourable 2-1 loss to eventual champions Argentina.

His stocks rose on a global level, with Scottish club Hibernian the leading contender, but Arnold has rejected them, insisting he has more to achieve with the Socceroos.

‘It was an honour that Hibs rang me and offered me the job but I’ve got a job to do here,’ Arnold said on Friday.

‘I will say I love coaching our nation, I feel I’ve got a great job,’ Arnold continued.

‘For me it’s all about Mexico, getting ourselves ready for that and developing and helping our boys in Australia.

‘I spoke to their owner and at this moment the timing’s not right.

‘I have a job on my hands here and I have full focus on the Socceroos.’

 Australia will begin its next World Cup – and AFC Asian Cup – cycles on September 10 with a friendly against World No 12 Mexico in Dallas, United States.

A 23-man roster has been assembled by Arnold for the clash including five debutants along with seasoned heads like goalkeeper Mat Ryan, Aziz Behich, Milos Degenek, Mitchell Duke, Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie.

Aaron Mooy will be one familiar face not present in Dallas after the Celtic star shocked Australian football with his retirement from football in June. 

Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Thomas Glover, Ashley Maynard-Brewer and Sam Silvera are the new faces hoping to gain valuable time in the green and gold.

Spots in the qualification teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the side to take on the Asian Cup in 2024 are on the line and Graham is hoping to get a look at the next wave of talent in America.

Scottish-born talent Burgess is one that Arnold is especially keen to get a look at, after the Ipswich Town defender was ruled out of the recent clash with Argentina through injury.

 ‘I was impressed with his performance and we’ve been watching him for probably about 12 months,’ Arnold said.

And obviously, he’s done well, in that 12 months, so our connection and communication has been there now for a good 10 to 12 months and he fully deserves to call up.

‘It’s fantastic to have another left footed centreback, he is 1.98m, so he’s a big boy, physically strong. He’s playing a very good level in championship with Ipswich.

‘I think the players that we picked fully deserved to be selected and obviously creating that depth,’ Arnold said.

Martin Boyle has been recalled for the first time since he suffered an ACL injury on the eve of last year’s World Cup.

Arnold said he was impressed by the winger’s form since his return from injury.

‘You’ve got to give the guy full credit, he had the operation in November last year and nine months later he’s back,’ Arnold said.

‘Most players take 12 months so he’s he’s done exceptionally well and hit the ground running straightaway with Hibs.

‘It’s great to have him back and if anyone does deserve anything it’s Boyley because he copped that injury just before the World Cup.’

Only two A-League players were picked in the final squad, but that had a fair bit to do with the timing as the Australian domestic season doesn’t kick off until October 13. 

‘We are playing a top 12 nation in the world we need players that are fit and have hot matches in their legs,’ Arnold said.

‘We’ve been talking about this for a number of years about how it damages our September and October windows … I have to ring those players and tell them that they haven’t been selected and it’s not their own fault, it’s the domestic league and the structure that we have.’

The fugitive brother and player manager of Socceroos star Garang Kuol has been arrested just weeks after he hit social media to taunt police. 

Kuol Mawien Kuol had been on the run since July 22 last year after he failed to show in court and skipped bail on charges of ripping off elderly Australians in an alleged bank scam.

Detectives from Victoria Police’s Gang Crime Squad arrested Kuol in the Melbourne suburb of West Footscray on Thursday as part of an investigation into fraud and drug matters.

The 25-year-old was arrested at a residential property just after 7.40am in relation to seven outstanding warrants.

He is scheduled to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday afternoon.  

His arrest comes months after Daily Mail Australia revealed Kuol fled Victoria to New South Wales where he was managing his little brother. 

The net closed in on Kuol just weeks ago after the rogue player agent hit social media to taunt a Victoria Police detective tasked with bringing him in. 

The former bank employee had previously fronted court accused of stealing more than $121,000 from customers of the National Australia Bank, where he was employed in country Victoria. 

The Shepparton News reported the majority of the customers affected by Kuol’s alleged thefts were elderly and included a 95-year-old and 76-year-old. 

In a slap in the face to his alleged victims, Kuol, who goes by the Twitter handle @kuoloneking, took to the platform to accuse a detective of stealing $120,000 from him. 

That detective was among the officers who took Kuol into custody on Thursday. 

Kuol had become increasingly brazen in recent weeks, posting a video to social media of himself boxing at a local gym. 

In December, he appeared on social media with his other famous brother Alou Kuol during a fancy party aboard a yacht on Sydney‘s Darling Harbour. 

The pair featured on Alou’s Instagram page, showing them enjoying a pleasant sunset on the water. 

Kuol was seen sporting a large gold-coloured watch, with a gold-trimmed throne pictured just behind him. 

Kuol professes to manage the ‘football affairs’ of both Garang and Alou, who last year signed a five-year contract with German side VfB Stuttgart. 

Garang became instantly famous across the globe in December when he almost became a Socceroos hero when he narrowly missed scoring against Argentina at the World Cup. 

Koul claims he helped broker a $500,000 Premier League deal for Garang while still on the run from Australian authorities. 

Just days after making his international debut for the Socceroos, Garang secured a lucrative transfer to Newcastle United. 

Last month he scored his first goal for Hearts. 

He travelled to Italy this week for a summer training camp in an early start to his bid to catch Newcastle manager Eddie Howe‘s eye. 

The 18-year-old was among the players who headed out to Verona for a week of gruelling, warm weather pre pre-season training to ensure they are already up to speed when they link up with the rest of their teammates ahead of the new term.

Kuol was joined in Verona by the likes of teenage Leicester forward Amani Richards, who potentially has a big year ahead after enhancing his claims for promotion up the Foxes ranks by winning their academy player of the year award last season, and Stoke prospect Soulemayne Sidibe, son of former Potters striker Mamady.

Daily Mail Australia revealed in December that Kuol had travelled to Sydney from Melbourne, where he quickly ran into trouble. 

He was arrested in Sydney two days after going on the run following troublesome behaviour at a casino. 

Police sources have confirmed the Footscray man, from Melbourne’s west, appeared at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on July 28 where he was found guilty of four charges, including resisting arrest and handling stolen goods. 

In a bungle, Kuol was released in NSW and had not been seen by authorities until Thursday. 

Kuol had been released back into the community in Victoria over the fraud charges on a $20,000 surety despite police objections. 

He had faced Shepparton Magistrates’ Court in June last year after police charged him with eight bail offences and applied to revoke his bail. 

Police Gang Crime Squad’s Echo Taskforce Detective Senior Constable Daniel Chapman told the court Kuol was on bail with a $20,000 surety when he allegedly got another man to sign in for him at the police station on seven occasions.

Kuol also allegedly tried to sell 13 grams of cocaine to an undercover cop and used counterfeit notes to buy a PlayStation 5 from a Melbourne man who advertised online.

The alleged fraudster was also accused of using the driver’s licence of his soccer star brother Alou Kuol when pulled over by police while he was unlicensed himself. 

It is not suggested Alou permitted any alleged use of his licence by Kuol. 

Police further allege Kuol used another person’s credit card to buy return plane tickets to the United States.

Magistrate David Faram granted Kuol bail despite his history of failing to obey court orders. 

Mr Faram also varied Kuol’s bail conditions from daily reporting to just three days a week – a requirement he quickly ignored. 

More to come.  

Socceroos star Jamie Maclaren opens up on the tragic family heartbreak that almost caused him to miss the World Cup: ‘Everything fell to pieces’

•  Maclaren’s wife miscarried on eve of World Cup
•  Striker was due to fly out to Qatar that day
•  Maclaren delayed his trip to be by wife’s side

By James Cooney For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 22:12 EDT, 29 April 2023 | Updated: 22:12 EDT, 29 April 2023