The Socceroos have identified United Arab Emirates playmaker Omar Abdulrahman as their chief danger in the Asian Cup semi-final.

While the Emirates boast the tournament’s equal top scorer in Ali Mabkhout, it’s 23-year-old attacking midfielder Abdulrahman who has the Socceroos on alert.

Omar Abdulrahman is a genuine threat in the Asian Cup. Photo: Getty

• Bumper crowds for Canberra games
• Samurai Blue sent home in upset
• Iraq in shoot-out win over Iran

Abdulrahman has trialled with Manchester City and is reportedly attracting interest from other superpowers including Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund.

The mop-topped midfielder has been highlighted by Socceroo Robbie Kruse as a man who must be stopped in Tuesday night’s semi-final in Newcastle.

“They’re not going to be easy, UAE,” Kruse said.

“We will show them the due respect they deserve.

“And they have got some quality players, in particular the number 10 (Abdulrahman). We will have to be ready to nullify him.”

Abdulrahman’s sweet skills have created frequent UAE attacks – many of them ending up with Mabkhout.

The Emirates striker has scored four times in the cup, equal with Jordan’s Hamza Al Dardour – who remarkably netted all his goals in one game against strugglers Palestine.

Kruse and the Socceroos will train on Sunday with their semi-final the talk of the town in Newcastle – a place the local newspaper has now dubbed Roocastle.

“It’s massive, there’s a lot of people coming up and speaking to the players,” Kruse said.

“It’s great for football in this country that it’s hopefully starting to get the recognition it deserves.

“And hopefully they have been enjoying the way we play our football as well.”