THE Socceroos will be without the services of injured trio Mark Bresciano, Vince Grella and most likely Harry Kewell for next Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Brisbane after all three were withdrawn from Pim Verbeek's final training squad yesterday.
However, Verbeek left the door slightly ajar for Kewell, whom he rates as a "10 per cent" chance of overcoming a groin strain in time for the match.
Also omitted from the provisional 35-man squad was Sydney FC's Shannon Cole and Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Ante Covic, as well as uncapped Central Coast Mariners pair Matt Simon and Alex Wilkinson, leaving a 28-strong squad. That number will be trimmed to 18 early next week, with the locally based contingent - including four players from Adelaide United - expected to make up the bulk and possibly all of that figure.
After missing the 1-0 win over Uzbekistan with injury, fit-again duo Tim Cahill and Scott McDonald are almost certain to start as the Dutchman looks to increase his attacking options, while Kewell will be given every chance to prove his fitness despite plans to press ahead without him.
"At this moment [he's out], but I will never say never and so I will wait for what's going on, but we have to be realistic … it must be reasonable for him to fly over to be ready and to be fit," Verbeek said in Sydney yesterday. "At this moment, I give him a 10 per cent [to play], but 10 per cent is still a possibility.
"Harry has special qualities, of course. Harry's a great player, so if there's any chance he can do a job for us on Wednesday, I will take that chance, no doubt about it."
While Verbeek admitted missing Bresciano and Grella to injury and Carl Valeri to suspension amounted to a sizeable "loss", he said it would open the door for other midfielders to stake claims.
"We'll miss Valeri, we'll miss Grella, which means automatically that the two positions in the central midfield are open, [but] I have possibilities," Verbeek said. "Jacob Burns, Jason Culina, maybe Mile [Jedinak], Stuart [Musialik] can do a job over there. I took [Paul] Reid also with me. [He's] an experienced player, doing quite well for his club and I'm quite curious to see him, so I have enough possibilities."
One central midfielder Verbeek did not want to talk about was Nicky Carle, the immensely talented midfielder who appears out of favour when it comes to national selection.
Yesterday, Carle's manager at Crystal Palace, Neil Warnock, fired back at Verbeek after he suggested Carle should leave English football, comments the Dutchman felt were misinterpreted.
"I never said that it's a terrible club, I said I really love English football," Verbeek said. "I said Crystal Palace is a great club. I only had my doubts about Nicky's qualities if he wants to be in the Socceroos' teams for the future.
"I've never said anything wrong or stupid or negative about Crystal Palace. I have no problems calling [Warnock] and telling him what I've said, because he should not believe what's in the media.
"I don't want to speak about Nicky Carle any more, let [him] start playing football first … let him show his qualities. The last time he played well was in the A-League, two years ago."
Less than impressed at the ongoing interest in Carle, Verbeek repeatedly asked several different members of the press pack, "When is the last time you saw him play?" before adding, "No one has seen him play. Next question, please."
Verbeek's plans for Qatar have been thrown somewhat by the managerial appointment of former Senegal coach Bruno Metsu, but he is confident they'll be doing most of the research.
"That doesn't make it easier for us because we have all kinds of reports and analysis on previous games and we know how they like to play with their former coach," he said. "Metsu's coming in and he will probably make some changes, maybe in tactics, maybe in line-up …
"But I think they will look at us more than we will look at them. It's not disrespectful to their qualities because we know their qualities, but let's focus on our own team." SOCCEROOS SQUAD Jacob Burns (FC Unirea Valahorum, Romania), Tim Cahill (Everton),
David Carney (Sheffield Utd), Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel, Switzerland)
Robert Cornthwaite (Adelaide Utd), Chris Coyne (Colchester Utd),
Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven), Bruce Djite (Genclerbirligi SK, Turkey),
Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide Utd),
Richard Garcia (Hull City), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands),
Scott Jamieson (Adelaide Utd), Mile Jedinak (Central Coast Mariners), Josh Kennedy (Karlsruher SC, Germany), Scott McDonald (Celtic),
Craig Moore (Queensland Roar), Stuart Musialik (Sydney FC),
Lucas Neill (West Ham Utd) Jade North (Newcastle Jets),
Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor, Turkey), Paul Reid (Adelaide Utd),
Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Matthew Spiranovic (FC Nurnberg),
Shane Stefanutto (FC Lyn Oslo), Mile Sterjovski (Derby County),
Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow)
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