Okay posted this in the 'sick bay' but no one will read it there, got a pm to a story on SCM, not sure where it originally came from but here it is for anyone who doesn't use their forums:
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After 10 months on the sidelines, Socceroos star Harry Kewell, seen in training last week, is about to jump back into action and could yet play a crucial role for his club Liverpool as they push for victory in the UEFA Champions League.
The World Cup seems a long time ago for Harry Kewell, who has battled nagging injuries ever since and is about to make his much-awaited return to action, Matthew Hall writes.
Liverpool officials are coy about officially announcing a return date for Kewell but club manager Rafael Benitez is hoping to unleash the Australian as his secret weapon against Chelsea for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Kewell's initial proposed comeback, a reserves game against Sheffield United early this month, was postponed until the Australian reached what Liverpool assistant coach Pako Ayestaran described as "Olympic" fitness levels.
A super-fit Kewell is now looking at being given a Premier League test run against Portsmouth next Saturday or a reserves outing against Everton two days later before the May 1 showdown with Chelsea at Anfield.
"Harry is progressing towards full fitness and continues to progress very well," a Liverpool spokesperson told The Sun-Herald.
"We won't put a time scale on this because the doctors and physios want him to be fully fit and happy in his own mind.
"We have two home games and two away games left in the Premiership and then Chelsea over two legs in the Champions League and the possibility of the final. There is also one reserve game, which is the last one of the season."
Despite Liverpool's official line, The Sun-Herald understands medical staff have given Kewell the green light and his comeback is now in the hands of Ayestaran, Rafael Benitez's Spanish assistant.
With Liverpool assured of finishing within the Premier League's top four positions - and automatically qualifying for the Champions League next year - the club is focusing on the semi-final with Chelsea.
With an eye on those two crucial games, to be played on Wednesday and the following Tuesday, Ayestaran is understood to have postponed Kewell's comeback until the Socceroo can reach top level in a series of scientifically analysed Olympic-style training drills.
Benitez rates Kewell highly and, although he has missed the entire campaign to date, now sees him as the equivalent of a late-season star signing. Kewell had several days off during the week to recover from tough workouts but reported no problems from his previously troublesome toe or major reactions after surgery in Australia last year.
Kewell, 28, credits Australian doctors for solving injury problems that have dogged him since an Achilles operation in the UK in 2001. Within a month in September, Kewell had a hip adjustment by David Young in Melbourne, a toe and ankle and tendon scrape by Kim Slater in Sydney, and groin and adductor tendon surgery by John Garvey in Sydney. He had had groin and hernia surgery in 2005 in the UK.
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I reckon going by that he looks a good bet for second leg vs the Chavs, be good to call on if we need him
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After 10 months on the sidelines, Socceroos star Harry Kewell, seen in training last week, is about to jump back into action and could yet play a crucial role for his club Liverpool as they push for victory in the UEFA Champions League.
The World Cup seems a long time ago for Harry Kewell, who has battled nagging injuries ever since and is about to make his much-awaited return to action, Matthew Hall writes.
Liverpool officials are coy about officially announcing a return date for Kewell but club manager Rafael Benitez is hoping to unleash the Australian as his secret weapon against Chelsea for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Kewell's initial proposed comeback, a reserves game against Sheffield United early this month, was postponed until the Australian reached what Liverpool assistant coach Pako Ayestaran described as "Olympic" fitness levels.
A super-fit Kewell is now looking at being given a Premier League test run against Portsmouth next Saturday or a reserves outing against Everton two days later before the May 1 showdown with Chelsea at Anfield.
"Harry is progressing towards full fitness and continues to progress very well," a Liverpool spokesperson told The Sun-Herald.
"We won't put a time scale on this because the doctors and physios want him to be fully fit and happy in his own mind.
"We have two home games and two away games left in the Premiership and then Chelsea over two legs in the Champions League and the possibility of the final. There is also one reserve game, which is the last one of the season."
Despite Liverpool's official line, The Sun-Herald understands medical staff have given Kewell the green light and his comeback is now in the hands of Ayestaran, Rafael Benitez's Spanish assistant.
With Liverpool assured of finishing within the Premier League's top four positions - and automatically qualifying for the Champions League next year - the club is focusing on the semi-final with Chelsea.
With an eye on those two crucial games, to be played on Wednesday and the following Tuesday, Ayestaran is understood to have postponed Kewell's comeback until the Socceroo can reach top level in a series of scientifically analysed Olympic-style training drills.
Benitez rates Kewell highly and, although he has missed the entire campaign to date, now sees him as the equivalent of a late-season star signing. Kewell had several days off during the week to recover from tough workouts but reported no problems from his previously troublesome toe or major reactions after surgery in Australia last year.
Kewell, 28, credits Australian doctors for solving injury problems that have dogged him since an Achilles operation in the UK in 2001. Within a month in September, Kewell had a hip adjustment by David Young in Melbourne, a toe and ankle and tendon scrape by Kim Slater in Sydney, and groin and adductor tendon surgery by John Garvey in Sydney. He had had groin and hernia surgery in 2005 in the UK.
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I reckon going by that he looks a good bet for second leg vs the Chavs, be good to call on if we need him
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