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Kewell up for Liverpool return

Kewell up for Liverpool return


Kewell up for Liverpool return

Harry Kewell is set to make his belated seasonal return for Liverpool's first team in Wednesday's League Cup clash with Cardiff. The Australian winger has been sidelined since suffering a groin injury while playing for his country in the Asian Cup in the summer.

He made a goalscoring return to action for the reserves at the weekend and now looks set to start his campaign to prove he has a future on Merseyside following the summer acquisition of Dutch winger Ryan Babel and Israeli playmaker Yossi Benayoun, both of whom offer Liverpool the kind of creative spark that Kewell provides.

Liverpool are expected to rest a string of first-choice players, including goalkeeper Jose Reina, who has branded the injury crisis threatening to overwhelm the club's season as a "pain in the backside."

The Reds number one was dismayed to see his fellow Spaniards Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres sidelined after suffering recurrences of existing injuries in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Arsenal, and admits the setbacks could hardly have come at a worse time.

Liverpool must beat Besiktas at Anfield next week to survive in the Champions League and they cannot afford to lose any more ground to Arsenal and Manchester United in the Premier League title race.

"The injuries are a big problem," Reina admitted ahead of the visit of Cardiff, who will have former Anfield favourite Robbie Fowler at the head of their forward line.

"We have had far too many in the last few months. Now we have another injury to Fernando and another to Xabi - it's a pain in the backside.

"When important players are recovering and coming back into the side and then they get injured again, it is always difficult."