According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Harry Kewell will be facing surgery on his troublesome groin this summer.
Australian coach Frank Farina said that it was doubtful that Kewell would be available for the Confederations Cup, as he has been told the winger is to undergo an operation after the Champions League final on Wednesday against AC Milan. Farina said, "It’s not 100 per cent certain at this stage, I’m still waiting to speak to Harry myself, but I got a message that’s he going in for the operation, so it doesn’t look good."
Farina is disappointed but understanding of Kewell’s situation: "After the season he’s had, I can understand why he’s doing it. I would have loved him to come to Germany but, as I’ve always said, it’s what happens at the end of the year which counts." Australia have World Cup play-offs at the end of the year.
If this news is confirmed, Kewell would join Stan Lazaridis in missing the tournament due to groin surgery. This means a shortage of left-sided players for the Socceroos.
Australia’s group in the Confederations Cup includes Germany – in fact they’ll be playing their opening game against the host nation in Frankfurt. Reds midfielder Didi Hamman was named in the German squad yesterday.
Farina will name his 23-man squad on June 5, and they’ll play a warm-up match against New Zealand at Fulhams’s Craven Cottage ground on the 9th.