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Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has dismissed concerns over veteran superstar Harry Kewell’s availability for next month’s World Cup, but won’t risk him in their Australian farewell against New Zealand in a fortnight.
The injury prone midfielder-cum-striker, who is currently playing for Turkish club Galatasaray, is battling a groin niggle.
The 31-year-old Socceroo stalwart is one of 14 members of Australia’s 2006 World Cup squad, who was on Tuesday listed in a preliminary squad for this year’s tournament in South Africa.
Verbeek selected a 30-man squad drawn from more than 10 different national competitions and also named Adelaide Eugene Galekovic on standby should anything happen to his three preferred goalkeepers.
Gold Coast’s Jason Culina was the only A-League player selected in the preliminary squad.
The Dutchman must pare his squad back to 23, with the goalkeeping trio of Mark Schwarzer, Brad Jones and Adam Federici seemingly certain of their positions.
Federici, who plays for English club Reading, is one of only two uncapped players in the preliminary squad along with defender Shane Lowry who also plies his trade in England with Leeds.
Much of the recent focus has been on former Leeds hero Kewell’s ongoing fitness battle, but Verbeek said the proven match winner would be ready for the tournament.
“The medical staff, everybody, Harry himself convinced me he would be ready and we still have five weeks to prepare him for the first game against Germany, so don’t worry about him he will be there,” Verbeek said.
Kewell is however one of the few players in the squad Verbeek will not consider using in the Socceroos’ May 24 clash with New Zealand in Melbourne.
“Harry will not be ready for a game like that, it would be too much risk, especially for a player going up and down time zone differences.”
Verbeek said Kewell was a player who could perform without any preparation.
“He can do something special during a game and that’s what I’m counting on.
“Harry is a special class and I will pick Harry and take him into the World Cup even if he’s not fit yet.”
The preliminary squad contains a smattering of youngsters including 18-year-old winger Tommy Oar, who recently signed with Dutch club FC Utrecht.
“I’m not putting too much pressure on myself to get into this team, I’m just going into camp to try and learn as much as possible from all the experienced players that will be there,” Oar told AAP.
Verbeek said Oar could become a great player in the future.
“But he still has to show he’s not only a talent, but he’s also a great player,” Verbeek said.
The Dutchman revealed choosing the central defenders in his squad had been his hardest selection task.
“Not because the lack of quality, but because there were a lot of possibilities with the central defenders,” Verbeek said.
Among those to miss out in that area were Simon Colosimo, Chris Coyne and Sasa Ognenovski.
He said he would take a squad of 26 or 27 to South Africa to cover any potential injury issues.
Among players already ruled out through injury were defenders Patrick Kisnorbo, Shane Stefanutto and Matthew Kemp and striker Archie Thompson.
Australia: Michael Beauchamp, Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Nicky Carle, David Carney, Scott Chipperfield, Jason Culina, Brett Emerton, Adam Federici, Eugene Galekovic, Richard Garcia, Vince Grella, James Holland, Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak, Brad Jones, Josh Kennedy, Harry Kewell, Shane Lowry, Scott McDonald, Mark Milligan, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Jade North, Tommy Oar, Nikita Rukavytsya, Mark Schwarzer, Carl Valeri, Dario Vidosic, Luke Wilkshire, Rhys Williams.
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