Federici, Herd out of squad

Goalkeeper Adam Federici and midfielder Chris Herd have withdrawn from the Australian squad with injuries ahead of next month's 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ qualifiers. Back-up goalkeeper Federici, whose club Reading recently won promotion to the English Premier League, has an undisclosed injury and has been replaced by German-based goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak. Herd, who plays for Aston Villa in the English Premier League, will not be replaced at this stage. Australia will play Denmark in a friendly in Copenhagen on 2 June as a warm-up to FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers against Oman in Muscat on 8 June and Japan in Brisbane on 12 June. Club commitments will also prevent midfielder Carl Valeri and striker Josh Kennedy being available for the Denmark friendly, with both players joining the squad in Oman. Valeri has been given permission to play for his Italian club Sassuolo in the Serie B promotion play-off matches against Sampdoria on 30 May and 2 June. Kennedy will travel to Muscat following his AFC Champions League match for Nagoya Grampus against Adelaide United in Adelaide on Tuesday. Dutch-based midfielder Brett Holman is also in doubt for the Denmark match as he awaits the birth of his second child.