Pim Verbeek has reluctantly given up hope of an unexpected Harry Kewell recovery in a major blow to the Socceroos ahead of Wednesday night’s crucial clash with Qatar.

The Australian coach today officially ruled Kewell out of the World Cup qualifier at Suncorp Stadium, bringing the number of missing midfield regulars to four.

Kewell, the hero of Australia’s last Brisbane visit against Iraq in June, has been battling a knee strain which has forced him to miss his Turkish club side Galatasaray’s last two matches.

While he was left out of the Socceroos 28-man squad that was trimmed on Tuesday, Verbeek still held some hope, rating the former Liverpool star a 10 per cent chance of playing.

Kewell was due to have a last-ditch fitness test last night in Turkey but Verbeek felt the trouble and rush to get him to Brisbane would have done him and the team no favours.

“Regarding all the travelling he has to make to come over here and the state of his injury, it was a difficult decision, but Harry’s not coming,” he said.

Disappointed captain Lucas Neill said the news was “a big loss to the squad” when informed this afternoon.

“He brings a completely different dimension to our team,” Neill said.

“He’s got great flair and hunger to want to succeed so, of course, he’s a loss but we’ve got great talent and depth in our squad now and unfortunately his loss will be someone else’s gai.

“I’m sure the person that replaces him will relish the opportunity.”

But while much attention has been given to whether former skipper Craig Moore will unseat Chris Coyne to play next to Neill in central defence, Kewell’s confirmed absence highlights the serious midfield hole.

Midfield general Vince Grella is overcoming a niggling injury and his normal deputy Carl Valeri is suspended, while Mark Bresciano - who plays in a left-side attacking role like Kewell - is also unavailable.

“We are a little bit unlucky that two positions we miss the same players, the players that normally take over their position,” Verbeek said.

“But I always said we need a big squad and we have a big squad.

“In our previous qualification (phase) we sometimes missed four or five and against China (0-0 away) we missed seven players so we showed we can do a job without them, that’s what you have to do.”

Verbeek revealed he’d settled upon the attacking structure he’ll adopt at Suncorp Stadium but is keeping his cards close to his chest.

Versatile stalwart Brett Emerton and Dutch-based attacking player Brett Holman loom as left-sided midfielders while Jason Culina and/or Central Coast’s Mile Jedinak could play in central midfield.

“It’s a great test and a great opportunity for the so-called less profile and less experienced players,” Neill said.

“We showed in Uzbekistan we were missing key players. People came in and did a tremendous job and I think it will be no different on Wednesday night.

“If we win it will put us in a fantastic position and it will set us up nicely for our final run-in to go the 2010 World Cup.”

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