Kewell unhappy with Australia omission

Club-less Australian Harry Kewell insists he is fit for his country’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers despite playing just three games this year.

Socceroos coach Holger Osieck is set to announce his squad for June’s crucial matches against Japan, Jordan and Iraq on Thursday.

Kewell, 34, has played three matches for Al Gharafa in Qatar since leaving the Melbourne Victory in June, 2012.

But despite his lack of match practice, Kewell said he was ready to go, only to be told by Osieck he would be left out.

“I know that I’m not selected because I phoned Holger Osieck and told him that my contract had finished at Al Gharafa but I am 100 percent fit,” Kewell told Fox Sports.

“He told me that I was not going to be ‘right’ for these World Cup games, but I am fit – 100 percent fit – I’ve passed every fitness test and every medical – I have the records to show them – and I just played three games for Al Gharafa.”

Kewell was not among the players invited to a training camp on the Central Coast held for A-League players in early May, which included the club-less Lucas Neill.

Despite saying he was ‘100 percent fit’, Kewell admitted he lacked match practice but believes he has a role to play with the Socceroos.

“He could have had a look at me first hand for two weeks (at the training camp),” Kewell said.

“If he did that then he could say, ‘OK, Harry, you are not going to be right’ or, ‘Actually, you are going to be right and I have a job for you to do’.

“I could still do a job for Australia. The only thing I am missing is some match fitness.”

Kewell said he was never released from his contract with Al Gharafa, but their Emir Cup exit led to the end of his contract.

The Socceroos, who sit third in Group B in the fourth round of World Cup qualifying, face Japan in Saitama on June 4.

Meetings with Jordan in Melbourne and Iraq in Sydney follow, with Australia needing to finish top two in the group to guarantee qualification for Brazil 2014.