SYDNEY: Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan has been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Tajikistan after suffering a knee injury playing for Spanish club Valencia.

“It’s a blow for Mat to miss these games but he picked up a knock in Spain overnight and with the travel distance and the lateness of his club game we have decided to bring in Eugene Galekovic,” Australia coach Ange Postecoglou said.

Asian champions Australia host Bangladesh in Perth on Thursday before travelling to Dushabe for the September 8 Group B fixture against Tajikistan. Australia opened the joint 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a narrow 2-1 win in Kyrgyzstan in June.