Time running out at Anfield but Kewell refuses to give up
Matthew Hall
Saturday February 9, 2008
Harry Kewell elected to spend extra time at Liverpool's training ground this week rather than undertake a 60-hour round-trip to Melbourne for Australia's World Cup qualifier against Qatar. Time is of the essence for the winger who has three months to demonstrate he is worth the faith shown in him by Rafael Benítez during the time out recovering from injuries that threatened his career.
"I want to stay at Liverpool and I'm going to be working hard to get another contract," said Kewell, who hopes to return against Chelsea tomorrow after being dropped for last week's victory against Sunderland. "I think this is a great club. I was out on the pitch the other night and I said to Yossi [Benayoun] that Anfield has the best atmosphere in the world. Why would you want to leave?"
Kewell was officially declared injury-free last November, ending a period when operating theatres and treatment rooms were more common surroundings than dressing rooms or muddy pitches. Recent tests rate Kewell among Liverpool's top-five fittest players but the comeback trail remains difficult to navigate and consistent form has been tough to find.
"It's good to be injury free but I don't know if I'm actually 'playing' at the moment," he said. "I would like to get there quicker but I have to get back to basics and just play easy football to get my confidence up.
"I'm one to face up to my problems. I'm not afraid to turn around and say I have got some problems and I need to work at them. It is hard getting back to the top level after being out for so long but I'm getting there slowly. I'm showing glimpses but I would like to be more consistent. They say that for as long as you're out it takes twice as long to get back. So, I'm looking to be back when I'm about 38."
The last line was a joke but the injuries are no laughing matter for the 29-year-old because they could have brought a premature and very disappointing end to his career.
Kewell's first season under Benítez was stop-start as an adductor muscle problem surfaced in late 2004. Since then the adductor snapped during the 2005 Champions League final and he has had groin and hernia surgery, torn a groin muscle during the 2006 FA Cup final and ended that year's World Cup against Croatia with a goal, a man-of-the-match performance - and septic arthritis in his left toe.
As with The Bionic Man, it was decided to rebuild him. Three months after the World Cup, Kewell flew to Australia for three operations in two cities in eight days - a hip adjustment; toe, ankle and tendon scrape and groin and adductor surgery.
Last season was written off with rehab and, although closely monitored by Liverpool, his comeback with Australia at the Asian Cup last summer aggravated his groin problem. But, if Benítez and Liverpool supporters were frustrated, they might ask how Kewell felt.
"Mental toughness is just as important as physical," Kewell said. "It starts playing with your mind but you either work hard and get back or you just plod away and don't progress. It's not in my character to just sit there. The only way to get back is to work hard and not shy away from it."
Benítez has largely remained a fan even when Kewell had no role to play in any rotation policy. The player is conscious of the support within Anfield and also that faith in his return must begin to pay dividends. "Rafa has always been a supporter of me from day one," Kewell acknowledged. "He's always stuck by me even when a lot of people have bagged me."
Negotiations for a new Liverpool contract may even be tied to Benítez's own future at Anfield. There is regular speculation regarding his future but January passed as planned - with focus on winning a new deal at Liverpool. Interest from Italy and Spain is plausible and, should Liverpool not make a suitable offer, real. Warmer climates and less relentless schedules than the Premier League's two games a week might appeal.
"If it sounds like a great place then, yeah, great, you laugh at speculation but, if it's the other way, you probably cry," Kewell said of transfer gossip. "You can't help talk but the truth is that I haven't heard anything, my agent hasn't heard anything and Liverpool haven't heard anything. So I just continue playing."
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_...255119,00.html
Matthew Hall
Saturday February 9, 2008
Harry Kewell elected to spend extra time at Liverpool's training ground this week rather than undertake a 60-hour round-trip to Melbourne for Australia's World Cup qualifier against Qatar. Time is of the essence for the winger who has three months to demonstrate he is worth the faith shown in him by Rafael Benítez during the time out recovering from injuries that threatened his career.
"I want to stay at Liverpool and I'm going to be working hard to get another contract," said Kewell, who hopes to return against Chelsea tomorrow after being dropped for last week's victory against Sunderland. "I think this is a great club. I was out on the pitch the other night and I said to Yossi [Benayoun] that Anfield has the best atmosphere in the world. Why would you want to leave?"
Kewell was officially declared injury-free last November, ending a period when operating theatres and treatment rooms were more common surroundings than dressing rooms or muddy pitches. Recent tests rate Kewell among Liverpool's top-five fittest players but the comeback trail remains difficult to navigate and consistent form has been tough to find.
"It's good to be injury free but I don't know if I'm actually 'playing' at the moment," he said. "I would like to get there quicker but I have to get back to basics and just play easy football to get my confidence up.
"I'm one to face up to my problems. I'm not afraid to turn around and say I have got some problems and I need to work at them. It is hard getting back to the top level after being out for so long but I'm getting there slowly. I'm showing glimpses but I would like to be more consistent. They say that for as long as you're out it takes twice as long to get back. So, I'm looking to be back when I'm about 38."
The last line was a joke but the injuries are no laughing matter for the 29-year-old because they could have brought a premature and very disappointing end to his career.
Kewell's first season under Benítez was stop-start as an adductor muscle problem surfaced in late 2004. Since then the adductor snapped during the 2005 Champions League final and he has had groin and hernia surgery, torn a groin muscle during the 2006 FA Cup final and ended that year's World Cup against Croatia with a goal, a man-of-the-match performance - and septic arthritis in his left toe.
As with The Bionic Man, it was decided to rebuild him. Three months after the World Cup, Kewell flew to Australia for three operations in two cities in eight days - a hip adjustment; toe, ankle and tendon scrape and groin and adductor surgery.
Last season was written off with rehab and, although closely monitored by Liverpool, his comeback with Australia at the Asian Cup last summer aggravated his groin problem. But, if Benítez and Liverpool supporters were frustrated, they might ask how Kewell felt.
"Mental toughness is just as important as physical," Kewell said. "It starts playing with your mind but you either work hard and get back or you just plod away and don't progress. It's not in my character to just sit there. The only way to get back is to work hard and not shy away from it."
Benítez has largely remained a fan even when Kewell had no role to play in any rotation policy. The player is conscious of the support within Anfield and also that faith in his return must begin to pay dividends. "Rafa has always been a supporter of me from day one," Kewell acknowledged. "He's always stuck by me even when a lot of people have bagged me."
Negotiations for a new Liverpool contract may even be tied to Benítez's own future at Anfield. There is regular speculation regarding his future but January passed as planned - with focus on winning a new deal at Liverpool. Interest from Italy and Spain is plausible and, should Liverpool not make a suitable offer, real. Warmer climates and less relentless schedules than the Premier League's two games a week might appeal.
"If it sounds like a great place then, yeah, great, you laugh at speculation but, if it's the other way, you probably cry," Kewell said of transfer gossip. "You can't help talk but the truth is that I haven't heard anything, my agent hasn't heard anything and Liverpool haven't heard anything. So I just continue playing."
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_...255119,00.html
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