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Kewell almost 100 per cent: Verbeek

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek says Harry Kewell's fitness levels are looking good for the World Cup.

kewell
Harry Kewell has signed with Turkish team Galatasaray. (AAP)

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Source: AFP


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Australia's star attacker Harry Kewell is on track to play in next month's World Cup, coach Pim Verbeek said on Tuesday, despite missing out on the Socceroos' narrow win over rivals New Zealand.

Kewell, 31, has only played a couple of minutes this year with his Turkish club Galatasaray as he works his way back from a long-standing groin injury.

The former Liverpool and Leeds United star Tuesday went through his paces with members of the squad who weren't involved in Monday's 2-1 friendly win in Melbourne.

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Kewell remained in Australia's provisional squad - which contains only three recognised forwards - when it was trimmed to 28 players and Verbeek said he was happy with his progress ahead of a pre-World Cup training camp in South Africa.

"He trained with the players who didn't train or play too much over the past week and he completed the whole training session," Verbeek said.

"Harry is physically almost 100 percent. We're going to work a few days individually with him and we expect then he will train with the rest of the team.

"His progression is as planned, it's going perfect, and he knows it."

Verbeek said goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, midfielder Brett Emerton and striker Josh Kennedy, none of whom played against New Zealand, would be ready for the Socceroos' opening training session in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Emerton failed to complete Tuesday's session because of a minor calf strain.

"Except Harry, we expect everyone on the field on May 27," Verbeek said.

"That means full training sessions from the start to the finish of the training."

The Australians leave for Johannesburg on Wednesday ahead of their June 13 World Cup opener against three-time champions Germany in Durban.


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