Scott McDonald was one of three players axed from Australia's World Cup squad on Tuesday.

Middlesbrough striker McDonald, a prolific goal-getter at club level in Scotland for both Motherwell and Celtic before moving to Teesside, has not scored in 16 appearances for the Socceroos.

The 26-year-old failed once more in Monday's fortuitous 2-1 win over New Zealand, prompting coach Pim Verbeek to include him in a three-man cull which saw the party reduced to 28. Defender Jade North and midfielder Nick Carle were the other men to miss out on the plane to South Africa.