Since record scorer Tim Cahill exited the stage in 2018, the quest for a replacement has proved vexatious.

The Socceroos made up for a shortage of firepower at Qatar 2022 with a defensive rigour which allowed goals from Mitchell Duke and Mathew Leckie to seal passage to the last 16 after 1-0 wins over Tunisia and Denmark.

Not a lot has changed in the intervening 12 months, with Duke and Leckie, both nearing 33, still the go-to duo when the chips are down.

Worryingly, Leckie hasn’t played a competitive match since June’s A-League grand final loss after being hobbled by a knee injury. 

According to Socceroos staff he’s close to full fitness again but will need A-League minutes under his belt in the coming weeks to be ready for January’s tournament where Australia face a relatively straightforward passage against India, Syria and Uzbekistan through the group stage.

It’s when fixtures against higher calibre opposition in the knock out rounds kick in where things get tricky against defences well versed in dealing with multiple threats.

The always dependable Duke is coming off a successful season in Japan, where he bagged 10 goals and six assists as Machida Zelvia won a historic promotion to the J1 League.

However, he’ll be out of season and must undertake an intense training regime with Socceroos conditioning staff this month to bring him up to speed for the tournament.

Beyond these two ageing icons, Arnold has little room to manoeuvre. 

Leckie’s Melbourne City teammate Jamie Maclaren will likely be included in the 23-man squad because of his ability to punish fragile defences.

It’s when Australia face Asia’s bigger fish in the knockout rounds where, if history is any guide, he’s likely to be less effective.

The loss of Brandon Borrello with a foot fracture and Paris FC loanee Mohamed Toure with a groin injury further limit Arnold’s horizons, with Viking SK striker Nick D’Agostino out of season but at least fit.

Portsmouth’s Kusini Yengi, a debutant against Bangladesh last month, could be a wildcard, if selected.

The issue for the 24-year-old is game time in League One, where he’s been limited by the promotion chasers to cameos off the bench in recent weeks.

Yengi, who offers a refreshing brashness, has scored twice in seven appearances this season - across just 89 minutes - but was out injured for over a month before his recent return to full fitness.

All of which gives Arnold much to ponder as he searches for an attacking blend which will frighten more than just makeweights in Qatar.