Despite Kewell has been in top form for his Galatasaray club, his recent injury with a torn abdominal muscle has led to his hernia problem.

“Harry rang me last night and told me he will be returning to Australia for the operation,” said Verbeek, to spend some time monitoring home based socceroos.

“It is not an urgent problem and he could have had it (the operation) in two or three months’ time. However, with the winter break coming up in Turkey, it makes it the right time to get the problem seen to.”

Kewell scored the second goal of the game with a stunning shot into the top corner of the net.

Watch the video

Harry struck in the 39th minute to give his club the lead. It was Kewell’s seventh goal of the campaign and the Socceroo is showing no signs of slowing up leading into Australia’s qualifying match against Bahrain on Wednesday.

Australia head to Manama, Bahrain on top of Group A with six points from two games.

Grella will definitely miss tonights friendly against the Netherlands and will almost certainly sit out when the Socceroos play their crucial World Cup Qualifier against Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

Coach Pim Verbeek has been excited by the form of Harry Kewell.

“Harry is fit, Harry is ready, Harry is fresh. It is good to see him in the group.” said Verbeek.

“Harry is back!”

Netherlands vs Australia kicks off at 4.30am AEST Sunday, September 7, with the World Cup qualifier match against Uzbekistan on at 1.30am Thursday, September 11.

SOCCEROO Harry Kewell has penned a two-year deal with Turkish giants Galatasaray after five injury marred years with Liverpool.

The Aussie international said that his decision was based on speaking with officials of the club and having seen the rise of both Turkish club and national team football in recent years.

“For me it was a decision not to think about anything except my football. I want to enjoy my football and I think this is the place where I can come and enjoy my football”.

Kewell moved to the Turkish champions on a free transfer as his Liverpool contract came to an end after five years without being renewed.

“I wanted to move on and I think this is the best way to move on,” he added.

Kewell was welcomed by hundreds of hardcore supporters on his arrival to Turkey and stated that he was excited to have joined a club with a passionate fan base.

Thing are starting to get even more interesting with news eminating from London that Socceroo Lucas Neil could also be joining Harry Kewell at Galatasaray before the start of the new season.

NEW Socceroos Captain Harry Kewell looks to have perhaps sorted out his playing future with reports coming out of the UK and Italy that AS Roma are on the verge of signing the Australian.

Kewell has gone on the record by stating that he would like to one day play on the European continent before his career ends and the Italian capital looks like the next stop.

AS Roma manager Luciano Spalletti is also interested in Man Utd’s Louis Saha but is said to be favouring the free agent Aussie as the Saha could cost around AU$15-million.

It is believed that Kewell will fly straight to Rome after Australia’s final World Cup qualifier against China this Sunday in Sydney to undergo a medical test before signing for the Italian giants.

Kewell would be hooking up with former Liverpool team mate John Arne Riise who has been on the outer with Red’s manager Rafa Benitez in recent times. Riise is set to join Roma on July 1 for around AU$9-million.

BRITISH Media is reporting that Celtic boss Gordon Strachan is renewing his interest in bringing Harry Kewell to Parkhead by offering him £40,000-a-week. He was keen to bring the Aussie winger to Scotland earlier on this year when it was clear that his contrat with Liverpool would not be renewed.Injuries and poor form has seen Kewell on th outer since his troubed move from Leeds in 2003. Juventus and Newcastle have been linked with Harry Kewell but Celtic has emerged at the front of the pack. MLS side New York Red Bulls is also said tobe interested in his services.

Injuries and patchy form has seen Kewell toil at Liverpool since moving from troubled Leeds in 2003. Along with Celtic, Juventus and Newcastle are also said to be prepared to take a chance on the 29-year-old, while a move to MLS side New York Red Bulls is also being mooted.

Bernie Mandic, Kewell’s manager, declined to comment.

HARRY Kewell’s Liverpool future has been confirmed. He will be exiting the Merseyside club at the end of the season coach Rafa Benitez confirmed earlier this week.During Benitez’s statement, he hinted that Kewell had turned down an offer to continue with the club next year but at a lower salary.

“We have tried to come to an agreement with the player and his agent, but that has not been possible,” Benitez said.

Kewell had been with Liverpool for five seasons since his controversial transfer from Leeds United back in in 2003

He has not played a game for Liverpool since the club’s 2-1 FA Cup embarrassment to Barnsley back in February this year

The Socceroo international has only played a total of 139 games and has scored 16 goals for Liverpool during his five year spell.

Kewell is not expected to line up for Liverpool in their last game of the season against Tottenham Spurs this Sunday as he is still coming back to full fitness from his previous injury.

Despite Kewell’s injury ridden career, it is believed that there are a number of European clubs lining up to snare his signature including Serie A club Juventus and relegation candidate Fulham.

British media has estimated that Kewell, 29, had cost Liverpool over $300,000 per week during the extent of his stay

HARRY Kewell has confirmed that he will play in next month’s football friendly against Ghana to be played at Sydney’s SFS……barring injury that is.Kewell has been combating injury yet again since he re-injured his troublesome groin playing for the Socceroos in their friendly against Singapore last month. He subsequently missed out on the 0-0 World Cup Qualifier against China that was played a few days later.

Kewell hasn’t played for his club Liverpool since they were knocked out in the FA Cup against Barnsley on February 16.
This will be the first time that Kewell, 29, will play in front of his home country since the World Cup playoff against Uruguay in 2005.

“I’m looking forward to getting back home as always because I don’t have a chance to do it more than a couple of times a year at best.”

This match against Ghana will be Pim Verbeek’s last chance to fine tune his starting lineup before Australia’s crucial World Cup Qualifiers against Iraq, Qatar and then finally China.