Australia coach Pim Verbeek insisted he had no concerns over Harry Kewell's fitness after naming him in his preliminary World Cup squad.
Kewell was among 31 names named in a largely predictable group which will be trimmed to 23 on June 1. There has been concern over whether Kewell will be fit for the World Cup with the 31-year-old hampered by a nagging groin injury which has kept him on the sidelines for large periods of the season with Turkish club side Galatasaray.
"Everyone's talking about Harry but he will be ready, I have no doubt about that," said Verbeek.
"As far as I know we have until the 12th of June and that's still five weeks away.
"Five weeks is enough for a player to prepare. If a club team has five weeks to prepare for a competition then they're very happy so there's no problem.
"Harry is one of those players that can perform without any preparation.
"He can do something special during a game and that's what I'm counting on.
"Harry's a special class and I will pick Harry and take him into the World Cup even if he's not fit yet."
Kewell is not the only concern for Verbeek with leading players Mark Bresciano, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella and Richard Garcia among those battling niggling injuries.
Australia preliminary squad: Adam Federici (Reading), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham); Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira), David Carney (FC Twente) Scott Chipperfield (Basle), Shane Lowry (Aston Villa), Mark Milligan (JEF United), Craig Moore (unattached), Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Jade North (Tromso), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough); Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Tim Cahill (Everton), Nicky Carle (Crystal Palace), Jason Culina (Gold Coast United), Brett Emerton (Blackburn), Richard Garcia (Hull), Vince Grella (Blackburn), James Holland, Brett Holman (both AZ Alkmaar), Mile Jedinak (Genclerbirligi), Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo), Dario Vidosic (Nurnberg); Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente).
Source: PA
