TOWNSVILLE, Queensland - Socceroos coach Tony Popovic is still waiting to find out if Mohamed Touré's shoulder injury will put his Asian Cup in jeopardy, but is confident that the Socceroos have the depth to cover his absence at top and maybe even swing a surprise.
Touré, 22, suffered a shoulder injury on the eve of the international window that forced him to withdraw from the Socceroos' squad for two Queensland-based friendlies against Brazil, with Norwich boss Philippe Clement subsequently telling The Pink Un website the knock was a "bad one" that would require surgery.
The striker had been on a tear prior to the knock, scoring five goals in the opening seven games of the Canaries' Championship campaign, including just minutes into the game against Bolton Wanderers in which he suffered his cruel setback.
"Unfortunately he's picked up that shoulder injury," said Popovic. "We're still in the process of understanding what the best action is next; is it surgery or is it conservative rehabilitation? His club is going through that process. We're supporting from afar, the Socceroos, and we're still waiting to hear what the next steps are."
Touré's withdrawal from the September international window has left Machida Zelvia frontman Tete Yengi as the only recognised out-and-out nine in the Socceroos' squad, with Nestory Irankunda having also been deployed in the role during the FIFA World Cup.
Archie Goodwin, Luka Jovanovic, Noah Botić and Zac Sapsford are amongst the young strikers coming through that have yet to establish themselves in Popovic's plans, while Ante Suto, John Iredale, Nicholas D'Agostino and Deni Jurić are amongst veteran options that have previously been called up.
Though nominally wingers, the likes of Martin Boyle and Nishan Velupillay - the latter called into the September squad as injury cover for Touré - have also played as nines in the past.
"We'll look at various options of various players," said the Socceroos coach. "You look at the modern game now, or even you look at us in the Socceroos. The players in the front lines are quite versatile; whether it's an out-and-out nine, or whether it's a nine that's playing more as a ten, a deeper nine. So there are many ways we can fill that position.
"We have a lot of talented players, a lot of creative players in the front third. We have options, and we'll use those options leading up to the Asian Cup.
"Hopefully, Mo will be back. If he's not, unfortunately, we know that's part of football. We've experienced a lot of this since we started, with long-term injuries. But we feel we have talent that can cover or come through, and we can have a nice surprise with a different player in that position.
"Obviously, we wish Mo a speedy recovery. He was in fantastic form, and we'd love to see him back soon."
While Brazil are touching down in Australia with an eye on the Copa América in 2028 and seeking to arrest a 28-year drought at the FIFA World Cup in 2030, the Socceroos' focus is much more short-term: preparing for an Asian Cup campaign that will begin in Saudi Arabia next January.
Australia's men will face Qatar and Jordan - finalists at the last iteration in 2019 - in the November window in their final fixtures before Popovic names his squad for that tournament. But Popovic was confident a clash against high-powered South American opposition, the first in Townsville on Friday night, would also hold his side in good stead.
"We're looking forward to a fantastic game," he said. "We know who we're up against. We know the quality that we're up against.
"But this is something special for us. We want to test ourselves against the best. We also want to keep improving and getting better. And when you play one of the best in the world, that gives you an opportunity to grow."