Kewell Breaks Down Again

Harry hamstrung

If I wanted to be a rich man I would have taken out a a licence many years ago on the use of the name Harry Kewell and the word injured in a sentence.  Once more this week I would have hit pay dirt as the superstar has succumbed once more to his fragile body.  Just five games into his Victory career and less than one game into yet another Socceroos comeback, he faces the familiar uncertainty of whether his body is about to once more fail him.

The news hit yesterday that Kewell was being sent home from the Socceroos camp after picking up a hamstring injury against Oman.  At this stage it is unclear just how serious the injury is, but obviously the Socceroos medical staff couldn't see any chance of him being fit enough to play against Thailand this week.  At this stage Victory remain bullish about having Kewell fit for their home clash with Perth next weekend.

When Kewell signed with Victory the big question was always going to be could he stay fit.  Five games in and we're still hearing the coaching staff say he hasn't reached full fitness yet.  This hamstring injury presents them with a massive dilemma.  They have to get him fully fit, but they can't afford to break him.  The Perth game presents a huge decision.  Play him and they risk further injury, rest him and they risk losing the additional fans he has brought in this season.

While the Victory have big decisions to make it's Socceroos boss Holger Osieck that really needs to learn from the whole episode.  Kewell had done little to warrant a call up, let alone his start against Oman.  It's about time the German stopped pandering to our so called golden generation and started selecting them on form.  Just why the likes of Nikita Rukavytsya, Tommy Oar, Matthew Leckie and Kerem Bulut can't make Socceroos squads remains a mystery.  All are playing their part at top flight level in Europe but cannot get onto the Socceroos radar under Osieck.  Apparently it's OK for Osieck to gamble on crocked veterans but not these young up and comers.