Mark Milligan says Holger Osieck has no choice but to make multiple changes to Socceroos side Stand-in Socceroos skipper Mark Milligan is a player in demand. A BATTLE-weary Mark Milligan said Socceroos coach Holger Osieck had no choice but to make wholesale changes for Sunday's East Asian Cup clash against China, regardless of whether Australia still had a chance to win the tournament. As it is, the Socceroos are out of Cup contention after Thursday night's 3-2 loss to Japan in Hwaseong, which followed last Saturday's 0-0 draw with hosts South Korea in Seoul. Osieck is the only coach to have fielded the same starting XI in successive matches at the tournament, and had the Socceroos had something to play for on Sunday, he may have been tempted to make as few changes as possible. But following the Socceroos' defeat, Osieck promised to give a host of players who have not had any game time a chance on Sunday. "The idea is that definitely I will give all players some run,"" Osieck said. "It is clear that I will change the team for Sunday."" However, with the short turnaround between games, Milligan said plenty of changes were always likely, even if the Socceroos remained in tournament contention. "I think it's a situation where changes may be forced upon all the teams,"" said the man who has captained Australia's experimental East Asian Cup squad. We have to assess every player's situation. That was quite a gruelling game (against Japan). They both were. "The boys worked really hard, (there are) a few knocks and niggles - hopefully everyone comes through okay."" Milligan had an ice pack on his calf after Thursday's loss but said it was nothing to worry about. It was just a heavy pitch. I copped a couple of knocks. I think a few of the Japanese players were getting a couple back on me to be honest,"" he said. On his return to Australia next week, the Melbourne Victory star will also have his future to consider after being linked with a $1 million move to newly promoted English Premier League club Crystal Palace, the home of fellow Socceroos midfielder Mile Jedinak. "It's obviously been a goal of mine for a long time,"" he told The World Game in explaining his long-held EPL ambitions. "There's obviously a lot of different circumstances that will come into play."" They include his need for regular first-team football ahead of next year's World Cup. It was only earlier this week that Milligan suggested the best place to launch his World Cup selection assault from was Melbourne. "To move would be quite a risk I think, especially when I*m so settled and happy where I am,"" he said on Wednesday. "With me staying put in Melbourne and hopefully playing regularly in a midfield position, that's going to give me my best chance of not only making a third World Cup squad but actually seeing game time.""