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Australia’s World Cup qualifying opponents will take a look at Harry Kewell and be very concerned. The 30-year-old winger is heading into the Socceroos’ matches against Qatar, Bahrain and Japan in the best shape he’s been in for years.
Kewell has caught the eye at Australia’s training camp in Dubai ahead of Sunday’s (AEST) match with Qatar in Doha, looking decidedly toned and trim and razor sharp in practice.
“It’s the tan really,” joked Kewell.
“I have been fit for a while now and I am just enjoying my football.
“When you do run around a lot, you do get fit.”
Kewell put his impressive condition mostly down to a fine debut season in Turkey with Galatasaray.
He made 34 appearances and scored 12 goals, a dramatic turnaround from a combined total of just 17 appearances – and only nine starts – in his last two seasons with Liverpool.
“There’s a lot of reasons for it (being so fit),” Kewell said.
“I am playing week in and week out and I am enjoying my football.
“I am enjoying training and I am constantly on the park at the moment.”
Galatasaray finished fifth in the league and failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League but Kewell was confident the club would improve next season.
With a year left with the Turkish powerhouse, he said he was now equally focused on club success and Australia’s World Cup campaign.
In typically cautious fashion, Kewell warned Australia could not start its qualification party too early, believing clinching the one point needed in Doha would be no easy task.
“Everyone is talking about ‘`we’re there, we’re there, it’s only one point’,” Kewell said.
“But it’s going to be very difficult against Qatar.
“We are looking forward to it and we are going to go there for the three points, nothing less.”
Kewell also stressed getting the result required for qualification was Australia’s sole focus, even if they had to play ugly.
“We have had a lot of stick over these qualifying rounds over the way we have performed,” Kewell said.
“But sometimes it’s all about just getting the job done and once you are there you can concentrate on the World Cup from there.
“So if we go out on the weekend and play a solid defence and get that scrappy goal, we will take that now.”
Star midfielder Tim Cahill and Norwegian-based defender Shane Stefanutto were set to arrive in Dubai on Wednesday to complete the extended squad.
Cahill is battling a hip injury and unlikely to play while Mark Bresciano, Bruce Djite, Mile Jedinak and Matthew Spiranovic were restricted to light duties in training on Tuesday night.
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