Herdman Calls Up Vickery and Baker, Indonesia Rely on Youth Energy at ASEAN Cup 2026

Indonesia national team coach John Herdman has officially called up two young forwards, Luke Vickery (20) and Mitchell Baker (19), to the 23-man squad for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. The decision signals a regeneration in the Garuda attack ahead of the tournament, which will be held in Jakarta and Bandung on 25 September–5 October 2026.

Vickery, who operates as a winger, received his first call-up after officially becoming an Indonesian citizen on 16 July 2026. Baker, a 196 cm striker, had already earned Herdman's trust and previously played for the Merah-Putih at the 2026 AFF Cup. Their presence is seen as an injection of new energy, especially in an attacking sector that has often relied on senior players.

National football observer Luciano Leandro views Herdman's move as an interesting breakthrough. According to him, young players like Vickery and Baker bring a different character: speed, mobility, the courage to drive forward, and the desire to prove themselves. "Both still need time and experience at the international level. But young players can offer something different," Luciano told Bola.com on Tuesday (22/9/2026).

Though optimistic, Luciano cautioned against burdening the two with high expectations right away. Adapting to Herdman's system is seen as more crucial than the target of scoring instantly. "Don't put too much pressure on them to immediately become starters or top scorers. What matters is how they adapt to the tempo of international football and understand Herdman's system," he said.

For Indonesia, the arrival of Vickery and Baker adds options in an attack that has relied on players such as Rafael Struick and Ramadhan Sananta. In the long term, this regeneration is important for maintaining squad depth ahead of Asian competitions and World Cup qualifiers. However, the transition to the international level is not always smooth; young players often need time to adjust to the intensity and tactics.

"If given the right opportunity, this tournament can be an important experience for their development and also add options for Indonesia in attack," Luciano said.

Indonesia will begin their Group A campaign against Singapore at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, on Friday (25/9/2026). The match will be an early test for Herdman to gauge how far his young players can compete. Besides Singapore, Indonesia will also face Malaysia and Bangladesh, two opponents that cannot be taken lightly.

If Vickery and Baker can make good use of their playing minutes, it is not impossible that they become new mainstays in the attack. But the question remains: will Herdman give them full trust from the opening match, or will he play them gradually? The answer will become clear in the coming days.