midfielder
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http://www.theworldgame.com.au/socceroos/verbeek-sweats-on-kewell-228362
Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek said he was not sure if Harry Kewell would be fit in time for the forthcoming friendly international against Korea Republic.
Verbeek picked a strong 24-man squad for the match against the regional heavyweights in Seoul on Saturday, September 5.
But it contains two notable absentees: Tim Cahill, who has a nagging foot injury, and captain Lucas Neill, who is still without a club.
Galatasaray star Kewell picked up an ankle injury in last weeks Europa League match against Levadia Tallinn and may not recover in time for Seoul.
I was at the match in Turkey, Verbeek said from the Netherlands.
Harry scored a great goal but he also got a nasty kick on his ankle. I was with him at the medical and he is confident of being fit.
"Hopefully he can play on Sunday but at this point I have a question mark over him.
Verbeek said he did not pick Cahill, who scored twice in Australias 3-0 victory over Republic of Ireland this month, mainly as a precaution.
Timmy is struggling with his foot. They play a lot of games in the Premiership and the Europa League, Verbeek said.
Its a totally different injury to the one he had in the past. Hes ok but at the moment it is much better to leave him in England. Its going to be a long season.
Verbeek said he still was not overly concerned with the Neill situation, pointing out that he will only start worrying about his captain if he was clubless in April or May.
"Lucass situation is a bit special, he said.
I am as anxious as everybody else and waiting for him to make a decision (where he wants to go).
Again, it is better if he stays where he is at the moment. I am in regular contact with him but there is nothing I can do.
"It is totally up to him and he needs to focus on his future. He is 31 and waiting for the right moment to sign for the right club. I think there is nothing wrong with that. This is why he is not in the group.
Verbeek was assistant to Korea coach Guus Hiddink the last time the two teams met in the 2001 Confederations Cup in Suwon, a match the Koreans won 1-0.
Verbeek is expecting a tough match from the Koreans who have picked a foreign-based squad that includes Manchester Uniteds midfielder Park Ji-sung and 2002 World Cup striker Ahn Jung-hwan, who now plays for Dalian in China.
Well go to Korea to win the game but the performance will be more important than the result, Verbeek said.
Good performances make life easier and also if you play well you are more likely to win games, as we did in Ireland.
I know the Korean mentality quite well and they will want to beat us because there will be prestige at stake.
The Australians, who will be buoyed by the impressive victory over the Irish, welcome back regular holding midfielders Vince Grella and Jason Culina, who both missed the Ireland match.
Blackburns Grella was injured while Gold Coasts Culina was given a day off in order to concentrate on the start of the A-League.
SOCCEROOS SQUAD: Michael Beauchamp (Aalborg), Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Nick Carle (Crystal Palace), David Carney (Sheffield Utd), Ante Covic (Elfsborg), Jason Culina (Gold Coast), Vincenzo Grella (Blackburn), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Danny Invincible (Kilmarnock), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Patrick Kisnorbo (Leeds Utd), Scott McDonald (Celtic), Mark Milligan (Shanghai), Jade North (Incheon), Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Matthew Spiranovic (Nurnberg), Shane Stefanutto (North Queensland), Dario Vidosic (Nurnberg), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow).
Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek said he was not sure if Harry Kewell would be fit in time for the forthcoming friendly international against Korea Republic.
Verbeek picked a strong 24-man squad for the match against the regional heavyweights in Seoul on Saturday, September 5.
But it contains two notable absentees: Tim Cahill, who has a nagging foot injury, and captain Lucas Neill, who is still without a club.
Galatasaray star Kewell picked up an ankle injury in last weeks Europa League match against Levadia Tallinn and may not recover in time for Seoul.
I was at the match in Turkey, Verbeek said from the Netherlands.
Harry scored a great goal but he also got a nasty kick on his ankle. I was with him at the medical and he is confident of being fit.
"Hopefully he can play on Sunday but at this point I have a question mark over him.
Verbeek said he did not pick Cahill, who scored twice in Australias 3-0 victory over Republic of Ireland this month, mainly as a precaution.
Timmy is struggling with his foot. They play a lot of games in the Premiership and the Europa League, Verbeek said.
Its a totally different injury to the one he had in the past. Hes ok but at the moment it is much better to leave him in England. Its going to be a long season.
Verbeek said he still was not overly concerned with the Neill situation, pointing out that he will only start worrying about his captain if he was clubless in April or May.
"Lucass situation is a bit special, he said.
I am as anxious as everybody else and waiting for him to make a decision (where he wants to go).
Again, it is better if he stays where he is at the moment. I am in regular contact with him but there is nothing I can do.
"It is totally up to him and he needs to focus on his future. He is 31 and waiting for the right moment to sign for the right club. I think there is nothing wrong with that. This is why he is not in the group.
Verbeek was assistant to Korea coach Guus Hiddink the last time the two teams met in the 2001 Confederations Cup in Suwon, a match the Koreans won 1-0.
Verbeek is expecting a tough match from the Koreans who have picked a foreign-based squad that includes Manchester Uniteds midfielder Park Ji-sung and 2002 World Cup striker Ahn Jung-hwan, who now plays for Dalian in China.
Well go to Korea to win the game but the performance will be more important than the result, Verbeek said.
Good performances make life easier and also if you play well you are more likely to win games, as we did in Ireland.
I know the Korean mentality quite well and they will want to beat us because there will be prestige at stake.
The Australians, who will be buoyed by the impressive victory over the Irish, welcome back regular holding midfielders Vince Grella and Jason Culina, who both missed the Ireland match.
Blackburns Grella was injured while Gold Coasts Culina was given a day off in order to concentrate on the start of the A-League.
SOCCEROOS SQUAD: Michael Beauchamp (Aalborg), Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Nick Carle (Crystal Palace), David Carney (Sheffield Utd), Ante Covic (Elfsborg), Jason Culina (Gold Coast), Vincenzo Grella (Blackburn), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Danny Invincible (Kilmarnock), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Patrick Kisnorbo (Leeds Utd), Scott McDonald (Celtic), Mark Milligan (Shanghai), Jade North (Incheon), Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Matthew Spiranovic (Nurnberg), Shane Stefanutto (North Queensland), Dario Vidosic (Nurnberg), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow).
