The son of former Socceroo Paul Okon is set to get his first taste of senior national team football after being selected in Australia’s warm-weather training camp in Abu Dhabi.
Paul Okon-Engstler, a 20-year-old midfielder on the books of Portuguese side Benfica, was on Friday named to attend a Socceroos camp in the United Arab Emirates later this month.
Okon sr is part of Tony Popovic’s coaching staff and while his son is unlikely to receive a call-up proper for next month’s must-win World Cup qualifiers with Japan and Saudi Arabia, he is clearly viewed as a player of potential.
Paul Okon-Engstler of Australia controls the ball during the AFC U20 Asian Cup semi-finals between Australia and Japan at the Shenzhen Baoan Sports Centre Stadium on February 26, 2025 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)
Okon-Engstler was part of the Young Socceroos squad which won the U20 Asian Cup earlier this year.
Hibernian defender Jack Iredale and Aberdeen-bound Western Sydney Wanderers playmaker Nicolas Milanovic are also called into the Socceroos’ set-up for the first time.
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The squad is drawn from players whose seasons in the A-League Men or Europe have already finished.
“I’m very grateful to Football Australia for their support with this training camp which is invaluable for the players and staff ahead of our games in June,” Popovic said.
“We’ve got players finishing up their seasons at a range of different times, so it’s important they remain physically and mentally sharp in the weeks leading up to the final squad selection.
“I’m looking forward to the chance to work together for an extended period.
“There are also a lot of players who are currently in-season with their clubs, and we’ll be monitoring them closely over the coming weeks.”
Striker Kusini Yengi, who was released by Portsmouth earlier this week, is included after injury curtailed his involvement in the March qualification window.
Encouragingly for Popovic, Middlesbrough’s Riley McGree and St Pauli’s Connor Metcalfe are back in the fold as the Socceroos boss looks to cover the loss of Jackson Irvine.
Irvine will miss the June 5 clash with Japan in Perth and the June 11 meeting with Saudi Arabia in Jeddah with a foot issue.
Two wins will guarantee the Socceroos qualification for next year’s World Cup in North America.
SOCCEROOS TRAINING SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan, Joe Gauci, Paul Izzo, Tom Glover.
Defenders: Milos Degenek, Jason Davidson, Cam Burgess, Lewis Miller, Ryan Strain, Alex Gersbach, Jack Iredale.
Midfielders: Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Keanu Baccus, Anthony Caceres, Max Blard, Nectar Triatnis, Paul Okon-Engstler.
Forwards: Martin Boyle, Adam Taggart, Brandon Borrello, Kusini Yengi, Nicolas Milanovic.
