Back at Danish parent club FC Midtjylland after solid loan spells with Portugal’s Pacos de Ferreira and fellow Danish Superliga club Esbjerg, Mabil, 22, has made a promising start to the new season.
And his form in three appearances so far has not gone unnoticed by Arnold, who is looking to add a dash of youth and vitality into his squads as he embarks on imprinting his philosophy on the national team.
Mabil, along with the likes of uncapped Barnsley midfielder Kenny Dougall and forgotten Socceroo Mitchell Duke, will be included in Arnold’s first camp in his second coming as Socceroos coach.
Arnold will name 30 players for a training camp in Turkey in the first week of September during the new season’s maiden FIFA window.
Australia face South Korea at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on November 17 en route to the tournament, with further warm-up games due to be announced.
Arnold’s decision to have a lingering look at Mabil is statement of faith in the potential of the exciting winger, who was a member of two squads under previous coach Ange Postecoglou.
However, he didn’t see any game time in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Thailand or Japan last year.
The Kenyan-born flyer, who first burst onto the scene with Adelaide United, has pace to burn and could add a new dimension out wide for Arnold, who already has the likes of Mathew Leckie, Robbie Kruse and wonderkid Daniel Arzani competing for the wing spots.
Those numbers will be swelled by Bundesliga recruit Brandon Borrello, once he returns to fitness around Christmas time after his anterior cruciate ligament injury.
It’s a pivotal season for Mabil, who is coming off contract with powerhouse club Midtjylland, currently third on the Superliga ladder after six games.
