Leckie out of Australia's qualifiers

Canberra - Australia striker Mathew Leckie has been ruled out of Australia's 2018 Soccer World Cup qualifiers against Kyrgyzstan and Bangladesh with a respiratory infection.

Coach Ange Postecoglou said on Wednesday that Germany-based Leckie did not travel to Canberra for Thursday's match against Kyrgyzstan.

"Leck has picked up some sort of bug or infection which meant he was unable to fly," Postecoglou said.

"We kind of had a deadline of yesterday and he still wasn't able to get on a plane, so he's ruled out."

Central defender Matthew Spiranovic will also miss the Canberra match with a calf injury.

Australia, who trail Group B leaders Jordan by two points, but have played one less game, are scheduled to take on Bangladesh next Tuesday in Dhaka.