Tall order, Kennedy set for a recall

THE AGE

By Phil Lutton and Sebastian Hassett

SOCCEROOS coach Pim Verbeek looks set to call on towering German-based striker Josh Kennedy in a bid to unsettle the undersized Iraqis in Saturday's World Cup qualifying return leg.

But a steadying dose of experience in central defence will have to wait until the following week's game against Qatar in Doha, where Lucas Neill is poised to make his return to the national side.

Kennedy and Neill have partners expecting babies, while the lofty forward is on the mend from an ankle injury sustained playing for his Bundesliga club Karlsruhe in April.

While neither were named in Verbeek's 26-man travelling squad yesterday, he said Kennedy could be rushed into the action after Harry Kewell exposed Iraq's frailty in dealing with aerial assaults.

"We're keeping a very close eye on Josh Kennedy. He's doing very well in his recovery and we don't have a player that is 196 centimetres and can do something in the last 15 to 20 minutes," Verbeek said yesterday.

"There aren't so many players like that in the Middle East. Most strikers in the Middle East are skilful, individual running-type players, so if you can bring somebody who is very strong in the air, they will all struggle with that."

West Ham's Neill is scheduled to join the Socceroos the day after the Iraq game, with partner Lindsey expected to give birth to twins during the week. Verbeek confirmed he would resume the captaincy from Kewell.

All 18 players from the Iraq victory were included in the squad, while Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson was a notable addition.

Newcastle Jets frontman Joel Griffiths, who started against Ghana but missed out against Iraq, was omitted from the squad after struggling with an ankle injury and lacking sharpness in front of goal at training.

While Thompson could join Kennedy as a shock weapon off the bench, it seems likely Verbeek will stick with Celtic's Scott McDonald as a lone striker.

"We don't have a player with the same qualities — his speed, he can score goals, he can make a difference and he is a fantastic guy to have in the group," Verbeek said of Thompson, who is on the comeback from knee surgery.

"So I thought I'll take him with me and we will find out when I can use him, if I need to use him. And if it's not the first two games, we still prepare for the China game (June 22 in Sydney) because we still have three games to go."

While the Socceroos have options in attack in central defence, they looked vulnerable against the probing Asian Cup champion.

Jade North and Michael Beauchamp were stranded a number of times, but with Neill and the retired Craig Moore out of the picture, the defensive stocks are thin. Back-ups Rody Vargas (Melbourne) and Chris Coyne (Colchester United) are both uncapped.

"You cannot blame Jade North for not having the same experience or qualities as Craig Moore and Lucas Neill," Verbeek said.

"It's the same for Michael Beauchamp. They are good defenders but they are not the leader types the other boys are. So, if we don't have that, you have to find better organisation and be aware of what their job is. I was very disappointed with the organisation. They can do better."

■In A-League news, midfielder Kaz Patafta has signed a one-year deal with the Newcastle Jets. Patafta signed for Portugal's Benfica in 2006, but remained largely in its reserve team before being loaned to Melbourne Victory for the 2007-08 campaign.

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