AUSTRALIA head coach Graham Arnold says Wanderers defender Gethin Jones is not a new name on his international radar.

The Socceroos have named their 26-man squad for the Asian Cup, which starts in January, including Bolton’s 28-year-old vice-captain for the very first time.

Born in Perth, Jones had represented Wales between Under-16 and Under-21 level as he made his way through the ranks at Everton.

Arnold confirmed that he had attempted to get the defender registered for the previous international camp in November, and that he had been monitoring his progress at Bolton for some time.

“He is one we have had our eye on for the last couple of years,” he said.

“He wasn’t hard to convince but it does take time to get through the FIFA regulations to get him to change his registration.

“He probably would have been in the last camp but it didn’t come through in time.

“I went and watched him when I was in the UK. He was very impressive.

“Ryan Strain’s injury has given him that opportunity and it’s a position, the right full-back role, that we have been building strength and depth in, and we have taken three – with Nathaniel (Atkinson) and Lewis Miller.

“Nathaniel has only just come back from injury and he has only played two sets of 90 minutes. I do expect him to play another two or three games before we get into camp. But Gethin is one who was born in Perth and lived there until he was eight years of age before heading back to the UK. He has always wanted to play for Australia and has played for Wales at junior level.

“When I went to see him at Bolton Wanderers I was very impressed with him. He has had the privilege of playing with Harry Souttar before and so it is a great addition to the squad.”

Australia will be based in Doha, Qatar, with a squad that has been expanded from 23 to 36 after a change in the tournament rules.

They face group games against India (January 13), Syria (January 18) and Uzbekistan (January 23) hoping to qualify for the knockout stages and a final, in Lusail, on February 10.

Arnold said he filtered through around “70 to 75” players who could have featured in the squad, including another Wanderers defender, Jack Iredale.

He hopes to use the tournament – won by Australia on home soil in 2015 – as a build-up to the World Cup, with four qualifiers remaining next year.

“It has been a tough couple of weeks getting the squad together at a tricky time of the season for everybody, right around the world. But I truly believe I have selected a strong squad, a fantastic squad,” Arnold said.

“We have got a great mixture of experienced players but also inexperienced ones who will bring a lot of energy into the camp.

“I’m looking forward to going across to Doha and doing a fantastic job for the nation.”

Jones is one of three uncapped players in the squad, alongside Patrick Yazbek of Viking in Norway and John Iredale of SV Wehen in Germany.

Twelve players represented the Socceroos at the World Cup in Qatar last year and Arnold is looking to the more experienced heads to help the new names settle.

“It is crucial with the senior players, the blend is crucial,” he said. “Senior players are the leaders and when the new ones come into the camp they need to be made to feel welcome right away.

“We have a family culture and environment with the Socceroos and that will never change, it hasn’t in all the years I have been around them.

“Young ones come in, get accepted right away, and made to feel at home. If they don’t, they won’t perform.

“Communication is the key.”