Mohamed Touré's Absence Sparks Concern for Socceroos

ALAMEDA, California — The cameras clicked, the drills began, and one of the most important players in Australia's campaign was nowhere to be seen.

Mohamed Touré, widely tipped to spearhead the Socceroos' attack in Group D, missed Wednesday's open portion of training at the Oakland Roots and Soul facility, igniting concern just days out from the opener against Türkiye.

Officials moved quickly to calm the noise. A team spokesperson confirmed the Norwich City forward is expected back on the training pitch on Thursday. The session will be held behind closed doors, and no explanation was offered for his absence.

For now, the mystery lingers.

A notable gap in the line

During the 15 minutes granted to media, every other member of Tony Popovic’s 26-player squad went through their paces. Balls zipped, voices rang out, patterns of play took shape. Touré, who had arrived with the group and posed for the team photo beforehand, was the obvious omission once the work began.

Jordan Bos only realised something was wrong mid-session.

"No, I actually don't know," the defender admitted when asked where his teammate was. "It was actually during training where I noticed he wasn't in there, so I don't know why he wasn't."

That uncertainty will do little to ease Australian nerves. Touré, 22, has been viewed as a central pillar of this campaign: powerful, direct, and in strong scoring form with his new club. Within the squad, his importance is no secret.

"He's a big asset for us, he's been doing really well, and his new club, he's scoring goals and his power -- everything about him -- is great," Bos said.

Take that profile out of the side and the entire attacking plan starts to look different.

Thin at centre-forward

If Touré cannot face Türkiye on Saturday, the Socceroos’ depth at centre-forward will be tested immediately.

Tete Yengi would stand as the only fit out-and-out striker in the squad. The 25-year-old only just made his international debut in the 1-1 draw with Switzerland in San Diego last weekend, though he marked it with a composed 56th-minute equaliser. It was an encouraging start, but throwing him straight into a major-tournament opener as the lone No. 9 is a very different assignment.

Popovic does have alternatives, but each comes with a trade-off.

Nestory Irankunda, used on the wing against the Swiss, has previously been pushed into a central role by the coach. His pace and unpredictability can unhinge defences, yet moving him inside would reshape the wide threat Australia has been building.

Then there is Mathew Leckie, the veteran who has spent much of his career drifting between flank and middle. His versatility has long made him a coach’s safety net, and Popovic underlined that when naming his squad.

"The luxury of Mathew Leckie is that he can play anywhere," the coach said at the time. "He has the experience and maturity that you don't need a week or two of training in a position with him. You can basically show him a video, and he would know what to do."

Leckie as a central focal point, Yengi trusted from the start, or Irankunda unleashed through the middle: none of those scenarios were meant to be the headline in the final week of preparation. Yet one unexplained absence has thrust all three into sharp focus.

Countdown to Türkiye

For now, the official line is simple: Touré will be back on Thursday. No drama, no detail.

But as the Socceroos slip behind closed doors and the clock ticks toward their Group D opener, every training session grows in significance. Every selection hint will be scrutinised. And the sight everyone in that camp wants above all is also the most basic:

Mohamed Touré, fit, firing, and leading the line when the whistle blows against Türkiye.