Socceroos rob Glory but it’s great for Chris Ikonomidis

Perth Glory will lose top scorer Chris Ikonomidis for almost a third of the A-League season after his sparkling form was rewarded with a national call-up yesterday.

Ikonomidis caught the eye of Socceroos coach Graham Arnold with five goals in eight games this season, three of them match winners, and is one of three A-League players chosen for the Asian Cup defence.

Tonight’s blockbuster clash with Sydney FC will be the 23-year-old attacker’s last game for Glory before he heads off on national duty on Boxing Day.

Ikonomidis will miss up to eight A-League games if, as expected, Australia go deep into the tournament in the United Arab Emirates from January 5 to February 1.

Arnold said he had been impressed with Lazio youth product Ikonomidis since his arrival at Glory this season.

“Chris has made a great start to his time at Perth Glory under Tony Popovic and it has been his form in the A-League that has sealed his place in the squad,” Arnold said. “Chris will add pace and energy to our attack, which is the consistent feature of the players we have picked.

“We will play energetic, high-intensity football in the UAE.”

The other A-League players selected are former Glory captain Josh Risdon and his likely understudy at right-back, Rhyan Grant, who will become Sydney FC’s first 10-year player when he lines up at nib Stadium tonight.

Ladder leaders Glory will aim for a third consecutive clean sheet in tonight’s game, having last achieved that feat in 2013-14.

Perth have let in just seven goals in eight matches this season and, although they haven’t been at their best recently, their ability to grind out results has pleased coach Tony Popovic.

“We’ve been trying to improve in terms of the number of clean sheets we get,” Popovic said.

“We know that builds a foundation towards success.”

Glory will again be without skipper Diego Castro (hamstring), but defender Scott Neville (ankle) was named in the extended squad yesterday along with midfielder Juande, who has recovered from a knee injury.

Tonight’s game is preceded by the undefeated Glory women’s clash with Sydney FC, which kicks off at 3pm.