Liverpool FC Forum

[A.B.]

KEWELL ON ROAD TO RECOVERY

A week in Australia's spring sunshine appears to have worked wonders for Liverpool's Harry Kewell.
The attacking midfielder looks to have shrugged off his lingering groin injury concerns during intensive treatment and fitness tests at an empty stadium near Bondi Beach.

And the good news is that the warmer weather may have enhanced his chances of being fit for Liverpool's Barclays Premiership clash at Fulham on Saturday.

Before then, Kewell is expected to play in Australia's Confederations Cup qualifier second leg against the Solomon Islands in Sydney on Tuesday.

Kewell was put through an intensive fitness test on his groin injury near Bondi Beach on Friday and said he would be "devastated" if he was unable to face the Solomons, who the Socceroos thrashed 5-1 in the first leg.

"I don't want to get my hopes up but I feel good today," Kewell told the Sydney Sun-Herald newspaper.

"I feel very good but if you get your hopes up too much, something can always happen. It's coming along very well, though.

"I would be devastated if I missed out on the game on Tuesday. It's a long way to come and not play.

"I'm going to keep working on it eight hours a day. I'm having very long days but hopefully I'll be ready for the game."

Kewell's groin injury has inhibited his performances for Liverpool since it developed after an early-season encounter with Manchester City in late August.

The Socceroo was minutes away from missing the flight to Australia after Liverpool's match against Chelsea in London last Sunday but he made the trip after privately hiring a physiotherapist.

Liverpool were prepared to accept a FIFA ban for keeping Kewell at Anfield instead of allowing their star to fly to Sydney.

"I just wanted to make sure I was going to get the right treatment," Kewell said.

"The Australian team has great medical staff but they have so many injured players at the moment they couldn't have just focused on me. We are missing eight players already."

Kewell appeared tentative in the early stages of his workout on Friday but later stretched out in full sprints.

"Sometimes when you come back from an injury you can get another injury in a different part of your body. It is all about getting through the first few games."

Kewell said he had been frustrated by his stop-start season under new Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez but had been very impressed by the Spanish coach's impact at Anfield.

"Rafael Benitez is very good," he said.

"He knows what he wants. It's almost like being at a new club.

"The differences from last season are massive. He has brought a new management team and there are new ways of training."

[chiggz_likes_owen]

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[Paul C]

Yay Kewells fit again

[A.B.]

lmao Paul.