Kewell: Coach has fitness concerns

Kewell was left out of the squad for the recent friendly against Wales because of coach Holger Osieck's concerns over his fitness, given he had yet to secure a new club.

But despite having secured his future with Victory over the weekend and an insistence from his new club that the 32-year-old will be fit for the start of the A-League season on October 8, Kewell has been left out of Osieck's plans for the start of the World Cup qualification campaign.

"He definitely is healthy, that is what I know. But, to be psychically healthy and match fit, it's always a gap," Osieck said.

"I cannot give you an update on his match fitness. I simply know Victory will expect him early September to join team training.

"We don't have to discuss Harry (and his place in the team). Whenever he played, he performed.

"He played a good tournament in Qatar, he had an excellent game against Germany.

"When he is ready he is definitely first choice for the team."

Also missing out are Socceroos veterans Vince Grella and Mark Bresciano, neither of whom have played since last year's World Cup in South Africa.

Osieck has opted for the same 18 who were in the squad for the match against Wales, which Australia won 2-1, as well as five additional players, Josh Kennedy, Mark Milligan, Sasa Ognenovski, Nathan Coe and Brett Holman, who was a late withdrawal from that squad.

Kennedy hasn't played since scoring a double against New Zealand in May, but is currently the leading a scorer in the J-League with his club side Nagoya Grampus.

Lucas Neill, who recently signed with Al Jazira in the UAE, will captain the side, which also contains another recently transferred player in Matt McKay, who has joined Scottish champions Rangers in the past few weeks.

With McKay now European-based it means the squad contains no A-League players, but eight who have previously played in the national competition.

Brett Emerton, who has been linked with Sydney FC in recent days, has been selected despite fitness concerns.

Australia open their qualification path to Brazil 2014 against Thailand in Brisbane on September 2 before travelling to Saudi Arabia to play in Dammam on September 6.

Australian squad: Tim Cahill, Nathan Coe, Luke DeVere, Brett Emerton, Adam Federici, Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak, Josh Kennedy, Neil Kilkenny, Robbie Kruse, Scott McDonald, Matthew McKay, Mark Milligan, Lucas Neill, Sasa Ognenovski, Adam Sarota, Mark Schwarzer, Matthew Spiranovic, James Troisi, Carl Valeri, Luke Wilkshire, Rhys Williams, Michael Zullo.