Socceroos v Japan: Matt McKay will play his 50th game for Australia but nearly missed out over A-League red card Matt McKay at the World Cup. Pic: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia BRISBANE Roar star Matt McKay has been recalled to the Socceroos squad despite earning the ire of national coach Ange Postecoglou for his recent red card in an A-League match. McKay, 31, is set to earn his 50th Socceroos cap after being chosen in a 23-man squad for Australia's friendly international against Japan in Osaka on November squad. The midfielder has missed Australia's past four matches due to his post World Cup ankle surgery. Postecoglou had hoped McKay would have got some much-needed game time into his legs in the opening four weeks of the A-League season. But McKay has not played since Brisbane's first-round 2-1 loss to Adelaide United on October 12 when he was sent off for an uncharacteristic show of dissent towards referee Ben Williams. He was suspended for two matches and due to the Roar having last weekend off because of scheduled opponents" Western Sydney Wanderers AFC Champions League final commitments, his comeback has been further delayed until Brisbane's clash with fellow strugglers Melbourne City at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images "I was pretty disappointed he got sent off and missed the two games because he did miss a fair bit of football (due to his ankle surgery)," Postecoglou said of McKay. But ... he'll get 90 minutes under his belt (on Saturday night). Matty's pretty resilient. I know him very well. I know that when he comes into camp he presents himself in good condition. Do I expect him to play 90 minutes against Japan? Probably not, but at least he'll carry the training load and it gives us the chance to bring him back in because he hasn't been part of it since the World Cup and we've changed things a little bit in the system. I was pretty keen to get him back in and make sure he understands where we're heading. McKay will be joined in the Socceroos squad by former Roar teammates Ivan Franjic, Robbie Kruse and the enigmatic Mitch Nichols, who has starred for Perth Glory since moving there on loan from Japanese club Cerezo Osaka. Nichols, who won the last of his four caps at last year's East Asian Cup in a second-string Socceroos squad, has zoomed into selection contention for January's Asian Cup, which is being held in Australia. I know Mitch very well. I worked with him for quite a while. He has certain abilities that certainly fit into the style of football I want to play," said Postecoglou, who was reluctant to criticise Nichols for his failed move to Japanese club football. But certainly I think he's in much better shape playing week in, week out than not playing. Maybe the Japan experience has matured him as a person. Netherlands-based former Roar star Tommy Oar was not considered due to a minor injury. With the Asian Cup just two months away, Postecoglou described the trip to Japan as the Socceroos" "most significant camp post the World Cup." The Socceroos have only twice in 11 matches under Postecoglou, who has regenerated the squad since being appointed in October last year. Roar pair James Donachie and Corey Brown have been named in the Olyroos squad for a four-nation tournament starting in China next week.