Socceroos selection will not stop Bruno Fornaroli leading Perth Glory’s attack against Brisbane Roar in Saturday’s battle of the A-League cellar dwellers at HBF Park.

Fornaroli received a surprise call-up to the extended squad for this month’s crucial World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia.

He is due to leave on Sunday but with Glory already hit hard by injury, including the loss of captain Brandon O’Neill for the rest of the season and the departure of central defender Aaron Calver to Korea, he is desperately needed.

Coach Richard Garcia said the 11 remaining games with a skinny squad will be a challenge.

“We need Bruno to play,” Garcia said. “He’s a very valuable asset and steers the ship in the right direction. He’s working his heart out.”

Calver was under contract and the club received an undisclosed amount from his new club but Garcia said the move was not purely financial.

“The financial part was helpful. It’s been well recorded that the club has been hit hard by COVID,” he said.

“The owner and CEO have a clear plan on how to rebuild, long-term planning and sustainability.

“It’s been a tough two years for the club financially and that’s part of the process of rebuilding.

“It is sometimes frustrating that it affects the group and short term success but we’ve got to look further forward to long term success.

“It was an opportunity for Aaron to spread his wings and go overseas. It worked from both ends.”

News of Fornaroli’s selection was bittersweet with the striker missing a penalty in Tuesday’s goalless draw with Central Coast Mariners that left Glory marooned at the foot of the ladder.

It came just days after Fornaroli, who arrived in Australia in 2015 to become one of the A-League’s best strikers with 81 goals in 134 games, became an Australian citizen.

Garcia said it was fantastic news.

“I found out (his selection) and mentioned it to him,” Garcia said. “The first thing he did was smile and said ‘I’m Aussie now’.

“It was a very nice moment to see him so proud of being Australian.”

Garcia said Fornaroli had plenty to offer the national team and his own game would take a step up the international arena.

“He’s a fantastic player with experience, quality, finishing ability. He’s got a lot to add to the Australian team,” he said.

“It will be a different proposition when he’s got the quality that’s in the national team.

“He’ll be able to find places and find the ball in different places. He will be a real threat.

“He’s got a great ability to hold up the ball and bring other players into the game. I don’t think Bruno feels pressure.

“Bruno is always someone who is willing to put themselves on the line when it matters. ’That’s something that he’s done since he got to Perth Glory.

“He’s always put the team before himself and he’s constantly trying to push others around him. In big games that’s what you want.”