Kewell to play against Chelsea?
LIVERPOOL are considering throwing Harry Kewell into the cut-throat Champions League semi-final against arch nemesis Chelsea.
Instead of bringing him back in a low-key reserves match, Kewell's comeback could be on one of the biggest stages of world football and manager Rafa Benitez is believed to be eyeing off the second leg at Anfield on May 1.
But former Reds manager Roy Evans warned against risking Kewell at this late stage of the season.
"They've had him in cotton wool so far and maybe it's better to sit the whole season out and make a fresh start in August or September, that's what experience will tell you," said Evans, who is holidaying in Australia.
"But when the big games come up like the Champions League, sometimes you take that risk.
"He's fresh, which is sometimes an asset, but it's a big ask because it's mid-April and he hasn't played for so long."
Kewell, who has suffered from septic arthritis, a bacterial infection in the joints of his left foot, has resumed full-scale training and has demonstrated to the coaching staff that he is ready to go, partaking in XI v XI games with the senior squad.
Australia's World Cup physio Les Gelis has worked with Kewell on a daily basis and after wrapping him in cotton wool, they are now ready to set him free. The Reds travel to Stamford Bridge on April 26 but with Kewell's demolition of Chelsea in last year's FA Cup semi fresh in manager Benitez's mind, the Spaniard is toying with the idea of saving his big-game player, albeit short of match fitness, for the biggest of occasions.
Evans, now John Toshack's assistant at Wales, believes Kewell can get back to his blistering best though and said the fact that none of the Reds players could hold down the left wing position had left the door ajar for Kewell's return this season.
"If he can get himself into shape, Rafa will be delighted to use him because he's always going to have an impact," Evans said.
"No one's really made that position his own. John Arne Riise's a fullback but he's been playing more up forward and he's enjoyed that luxury but Harry is an attacking force." Benitez has two opportunities to blood the 28-year-old before the first leg tie against Chelsea, in the upcoming home clashes against Middlesbrough (Thursday morning) and Wigan (Saturday)
Socceroos boss Graham Arnold, who has not put any pressure on Kewell ahead of the Asian Cup, applauded Liverpool's cautious approach.
"It's the right approach because they're making sure he's 100 per cent fit and not back on the field at just 75 per cent," Arnold said.
"He's still so important to both Liverpool and Australia, look at the damage he did at the World Cup at 75 per cent.
"He's ready to start and Liverpool are monitoring his progress right down to smallest detail, but they're making sure he's right so there won't be any recurrences.
"He's got an outstanding physio in Les Gelis working with him all the time and a professional medical and sports science department at Liverpool."
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...001023,00.html
Instead of bringing him back in a low-key reserves match, Kewell's comeback could be on one of the biggest stages of world football and manager Rafa Benitez is believed to be eyeing off the second leg at Anfield on May 1.
But former Reds manager Roy Evans warned against risking Kewell at this late stage of the season.
"They've had him in cotton wool so far and maybe it's better to sit the whole season out and make a fresh start in August or September, that's what experience will tell you," said Evans, who is holidaying in Australia.
"But when the big games come up like the Champions League, sometimes you take that risk.
"He's fresh, which is sometimes an asset, but it's a big ask because it's mid-April and he hasn't played for so long."
Kewell, who has suffered from septic arthritis, a bacterial infection in the joints of his left foot, has resumed full-scale training and has demonstrated to the coaching staff that he is ready to go, partaking in XI v XI games with the senior squad.
Australia's World Cup physio Les Gelis has worked with Kewell on a daily basis and after wrapping him in cotton wool, they are now ready to set him free. The Reds travel to Stamford Bridge on April 26 but with Kewell's demolition of Chelsea in last year's FA Cup semi fresh in manager Benitez's mind, the Spaniard is toying with the idea of saving his big-game player, albeit short of match fitness, for the biggest of occasions.
Evans, now John Toshack's assistant at Wales, believes Kewell can get back to his blistering best though and said the fact that none of the Reds players could hold down the left wing position had left the door ajar for Kewell's return this season.
"If he can get himself into shape, Rafa will be delighted to use him because he's always going to have an impact," Evans said.
"No one's really made that position his own. John Arne Riise's a fullback but he's been playing more up forward and he's enjoyed that luxury but Harry is an attacking force." Benitez has two opportunities to blood the 28-year-old before the first leg tie against Chelsea, in the upcoming home clashes against Middlesbrough (Thursday morning) and Wigan (Saturday)
Socceroos boss Graham Arnold, who has not put any pressure on Kewell ahead of the Asian Cup, applauded Liverpool's cautious approach.
"It's the right approach because they're making sure he's 100 per cent fit and not back on the field at just 75 per cent," Arnold said.
"He's still so important to both Liverpool and Australia, look at the damage he did at the World Cup at 75 per cent.
"He's ready to start and Liverpool are monitoring his progress right down to smallest detail, but they're making sure he's right so there won't be any recurrences.
"He's got an outstanding physio in Les Gelis working with him all the time and a professional medical and sports science department at Liverpool."
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...001023,00.html
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